[Beanie Recs] Sucked into alternate storybook worlds
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!
@jenzy: Upcoming drama special Grand Shining Hotel has one of my favorite setups ever: characters sucked into alternate storybook worlds. While I wait for this one to air, if anyone has any other recs with this setup (besides greats like Extraordinary You and W-Two Worlds), please help a girl out in the comments!
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 Gum Shoe
January 24, 2024 at 5:23 AM
Lost Romance: fabulous and fun. It also has some kDrama shoutouts.
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imzadi
January 24, 2024 at 8:55 AM
Yes, I really liked this. I watched it after you mentioned it in another topic. I wanted to watch something else with Marcus Chang and landed on "Behind your smile", but I dropped it almost immediately.
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missvictrix
January 24, 2024 at 4:08 PM
Marcus is mine
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2 panshel
January 24, 2024 at 5:34 AM
I wouldn't call it a K-drama, but Viki's original series Dramaworld has an American girl sucked into a K-drama.
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3 Kurama
January 24, 2024 at 5:41 AM
In Kdramas, EY and W are the only ones I know, I think.
Memories of Alhambra is the ML stuck half in a video game and half in the reality.
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Midnight
January 24, 2024 at 7:56 AM
Memories of Alhambra was a fascinating show. It was strangely relatable although I am not at all into video games. I found myself feeling every single emotion Hyun Bin was feeling. He is a great actor, I know, but I think the writing, directing, music, and cinematography were all perfectly on point too. The initial exhilaration, the subsequent grief and desperation, and the ultimate resignation were all mesmerizing. Haunting.
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Kurama
January 24, 2024 at 8:07 AM
It was one of my favourite role for Hyun Bin and least favourite one for Park Shin-Hye.
It's sad that the female characters were so poorly written because I liked the rest.
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Midnight
January 24, 2024 at 8:24 AM
It probably helped that Pinocchio was the only show I liked her in, so I went in completely predisposed to ignore her.
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WEnchanteur
January 24, 2024 at 9:59 AM
Well, it's not the topic for that, but I never saw Park Shin-Hye so good than in this drama. So I guess her character was well written (even if she doesn't help a lot for the plot). She was EPIC level on crying scene. What a talented actress!
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Midnight
January 24, 2024 at 10:06 AM
Yes, as I went in with very low expectations for her, I was pleasantly surprised to like her very much again.
Kurama
January 24, 2024 at 10:08 AM
I prefered her in her other dramas. She cried well but it's the only thing she did. The chemistry wasn't really good neither.
Neither of her characters neither the 2 ex were written for me. They weren't important to the story.
WEnchanteur
January 24, 2024 at 10:23 AM
@Kurama, ah, I won't speak about that here, because it's the wrong topic. And it would need to tell too much about this drama, character change, etc. Sorry!
WEnchanteur
January 24, 2024 at 10:01 AM
Background musics were the best you can find. Same team who made: Signal, W two worlds, Save Me. What are in my top of background musics ever made for dramas.
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Isa is always time travelling
January 25, 2024 at 12:14 AM
I always say that was Hyun Bin's best performance in his career.
I'm very fond of that drama too because it was my first approach to Dramaland and it was partly set in Spain (even though they shot in other European locations and it was clear that weren't Granada).
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Kurama
January 25, 2024 at 12:41 AM
I agree!
When I visited the region (Sevilla, Granada and Córdoba), I couldn't help myself to think about this drama 😅
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Isa is always time travelling
January 25, 2024 at 1:56 AM
I guess that's inevitable 😂
I'm sure the same will happen to me when I visit Granada (even though I live in Spain, I have only been in Granada once, in a family trip when I was a child).
Kurama
January 25, 2024 at 2:00 AM
@isagc I loved the 3 towns!!! They were so beautiful.
But I went in Summer, I never was so hot 😅 The evening, it was like if a big hairdryer was blowing warm wind... My ice cream was melting faster than I was eating!
I had the same reaction when I went To Quebec and slept in Goblin hotel!
Isa is always time travelling
January 25, 2024 at 2:30 AM
@kurama
Ah, the hot Andalusia... That's one of the reasons why I have not gone back there, because we usually travel in Summer, but we try to avoid the hottest regions (we live in the South-East coast, so here is hot too (but humid)).
4 vienibenmio
January 24, 2024 at 5:52 AM
If you're open to webcomics, I have a MILLION suggestions, lol. "Modern Korean girl dies and wakes up in her favorite fantasy novel" is a hugely popular genre. I imagine someday at least a few of them will get adapted into dramas.
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WEnchanteur
January 24, 2024 at 7:02 AM
Strange it's not done already, since the time they are blocked into "character dies and come back X years in time".
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cozybooks
January 24, 2024 at 2:13 PM
Right?? That was exactly my comment ahahahaha and then guys and video games or fantasy worlds
The End is a Game to Me
Surviving the Game as a Barbarian
Greatest Estate Developer
And on and on hahaha
The problem with turning at least the ones I mentioned into dramas is the effects needed
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vienibenmio
January 24, 2024 at 2:56 PM
Yeah, my favorites are Miss Not So Sidekick, For My Derelict Favorite, Long After the Ending, and Not Just Another Reincarnation Story
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vienibenmio
January 24, 2024 at 2:58 PM
Ohh, also Happily Ever Afterwards
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vienibenmio
January 24, 2024 at 2:59 PM
And I'll Save This Damn Family (I stop now I promise, lol)
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cozybooks
January 24, 2024 at 3:12 PM
I like Not Just Another Reincarnation Story actually hahaha
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5 WEnchanteur
January 24, 2024 at 6:13 AM
The list is likely to be short for dramas.
One drama I can suggest is W four worlds.
Only, it's not filmed, it's a visual screenplay. The closest rendering to TV.
- It's the unofficial season 2 of W two worlds, as if it were the real thing. With a crazy new plot, the extension of the high-concept with logic, plot-twists, emotional rollercoasters, in short, the same spirit as season 1. You feel at home.
- With characters from the original drama. And for the new characters, since the format use photos, actors Lee Jong Gi, Kim So Hyun and Kim Tae Hee.
- It's more easy to read than anything. Even books for children.
- Links to the screenplay are on my Wall page here.
Click on my profile.
@jenzy might be interested? I created it for people who love W and myself, and even imagining that the story might surprise W's screenwriter.
Other proposals, but not just books:
- The kdrama "dramaworld": proposes a heroine who enters the world of dramas.
- The US movie "Last Action Hero": proposes a child who enters an action movie.
- The US movie "The Never-Ending Story": features a child who enters the world of a fantasy book.
There are undoubtedly others, older films, Japanese anime...
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6 Seon-ha
January 24, 2024 at 7:24 AM
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland as told by Lewis Carroll and illustrated by John Tenniel? Quite creepy on any number of levels!
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WEnchanteur
January 24, 2024 at 7:42 AM
If you are interested in this kind, this french-belgium comic:
Philemon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil%C3%A9mon_(comics)
The comic-book has been translated in english.
https://www.toon-books.com/cast-away-on-the-letter-a-a-philemon-adventure.html
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too_much_tv
January 25, 2024 at 6:26 AM
It's the book that defines the genre though, isn't it? I read it dozens of times as a child. All the rest are pale imitations. Did you read the Jasper Fforde Thursday Next books when they were popular? I was just thinking about those.
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Seon-ha
January 25, 2024 at 6:42 AM
I did read the Thursday Next series of books! I loved them!!
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7 zindigo
January 24, 2024 at 7:49 AM
I recently watched C-Drama The Romance of Tiger and Rose, which was a light and fluffy take on this concept.
And I've been waiting (and waiting and waiting) for Netflix to release Queen of the Scene with Gong Hyo Jin as a makjang writer suddenly trapped in one of her stories.
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jillian
January 24, 2024 at 12:16 PM
I like Zhao Lusi so I will have to look up The Romance of Tiger and Rose.
This is a concept that is not common in kdrama so glad that there is another drama in the works with Gong Hyo Jin. I have not seen W: Two Worlds and Extraordinary You. But maybe I will watch Queen of the Scene.
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zindigo
January 24, 2024 at 1:00 PM
Apparently QS is only going to be 6 episodes... so an easy watch! I'm guessing Netflix is waiting until "Ask the Stars" is released so they can capitalize on her likely spike in popularity.
I enjoyed Tiger and Rose, but fair warning, it IS silly 🙃.
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jillian
January 24, 2024 at 1:08 PM
Thanks for the info on QS. 6 episodes is good, low commitment and may watch it all if I end up liking the first two episodes. 😊
About Tiger and Rose, I will reserve that for when I am in a mood for silly then.
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8 Qingdao: likes scented candles
January 24, 2024 at 7:52 AM
About crossing the line between two worlds, here is some clarification:
"Breaking the 3rd wall" is when the actors are aware that the characters are in a production (when leads fall in love and say "This is like the perfect ending of a RomCom.")
"Breaking the 4th wall" is when characters respond directly to the audience (the real world--when Peter Pan asks the audience to save Tinkerbell).
I'm not sure about the alternate worlds storyline setup, but does "King: Eternal Monarch" count?
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WEnchanteur
January 24, 2024 at 8:03 AM
TKEM: no, because the characters don't enter a fictional world. In this case "Train" would count too. Or others stories starting with a clear concept of other (non-fictive) dimension.
Thanks for the walls reminder. 3rd wall breaking often happens, many dramas have a comedy line of this kind "you think you are in a drama?".
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23new2kdrama🫘🌱 ❤️WDH❤️
January 24, 2024 at 8:06 PM
I was wondering about TKEM also. It would be the only thing I have seen that comes close to the theme. This is a whole new section of dramas for me
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9 ♡Peach_Mochi♡
January 24, 2024 at 8:30 AM
A pair of recent C-dramas:
To Ship Someone — Optimistic editor gets sucked into novel along with its pessimistic author.
Catch Up My Prince — Medical intern winds up in role-playing video game and must complete quests if she hopes to escape back to reality.
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10 lillamy
January 24, 2024 at 10:45 AM
Chinese Webdrama My Supervisor Husband had so much fun with this concept, it was short but very nice. Night of Love With You is another webdrama on a very similar theme.
You can't go wrong with the previously mentioned Lost Romance as well. It has the most wonderful SML so beware of second lead syndrome.
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11 CasualDramaFan
January 24, 2024 at 11:12 AM
Lost Romance is the Taiwanese drama in which female lead gets sucked into overbearing CEO novel. It’s quite fun.
Romance of the Tiger and the Rose is the C-drama where writer is transported into her crappy drama script. The meta elements in her show within the show are quite funny. One example – male lead is for female lead but second male lead is for everyone else.
In Joy of life male lead writes a novel in which a modern man transports back into ancient time. It was done so get past the sensors.
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12 zindigo
January 24, 2024 at 1:01 PM
I'm fascinated by how few K-dramas incorporate this concept, especially with so many time travel/time twist/past life dramas... this storyline seems like a natural fit.
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13 cozybooks
January 24, 2024 at 1:58 PM
Tangential to the topic- I wonder if Isekai (a genre very similar to this if not this exactly) will become the next big thing in dramaland? There is, at least, a plethora of source webtoons, novels etc. For adaptation dramas (continuing in the thread of adaptations). It's a pretty big genre.
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
January 24, 2024 at 9:59 PM
Good point there is a Japanese drama Isekai Izakaya Nobu where they have a bar restaurant in the modern world where the staff entrance leads to modern Japan but the main door for customers opens into Another world. What’s weird is the customers look and dress like medieval Europeans some even have blonde hair but they speak Japanese. The town architecture is also European.
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cozybooks
January 25, 2024 at 5:25 PM
Oh cool! That actually sounds like it could be adapted pretty well.
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14 LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
January 24, 2024 at 2:36 PM
Extraordinary You is by far the best example of this genre, although I tend to think W: Two Worlds is better than it gets credit for (albeit entirely by accident, judging from the trainwreck nature of the writer's filmography).
Extraordinary You is the only one that pokes gentle fun at Kdrama tropes, critiques bad writing, is a great little story and also deals properly with its metaphysics. It's quite a masterpiece considering there's no 'outside' world for the fictional world to intersect with and I genuinely thought it would collapse because of it.
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15 cozybooks
January 24, 2024 at 3:03 PM
Sucked literally into a fictional world?
W Two Worlds
Memories of the Alhambra
Characters adventuring in a different dimension? That's a bit easier:
Train
The Heavenly Idol
Welcome2Life
King: the Eternal Monarch
Tangential Mention: Daily Dose of Sunshine, for the one character who thinks they live inside the game even though they don't.
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16 beffels
January 24, 2024 at 6:39 PM
I feel like this is more common in c drama than in kdrama? I had a look on my drama list with the tag “fictional world” and apart from Extraordinary You and W, it’s basically all cdrama.
An English example might be Lost in Austen? She gets sucked into Pride and Prejudice (changes places with Elizabeth Bennet?) and then tries to keep the story on track but it goes off the rails. I barely remember it so I can’t say if it’s any good or not 😅
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zindigo
January 24, 2024 at 8:20 PM
Lost in Austen! It's been a while but if I recall it was pretty funny, especially when the story starts going off track.
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DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
January 24, 2024 at 8:38 PM
The Never Ending Story, ... (Die unendliche Geschichte).
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DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
January 24, 2024 at 8:42 PM
Oh, and the Thursday Next Series by Jasper Fforde, of course.
And you could argue, Alice in Wonderland, and Der Goldne Topf (The Golden Pot).
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WEnchanteur
January 24, 2024 at 10:05 PM
Other US movies.
Last Action Hero: child going into a action movie.
This movie push the concept far enough, very fun.
Stranger Than Fiction: a man discovers he's the hero of a novel.
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Babylilo
January 25, 2024 at 5:27 AM
The 1998 American film, Pleasantville is about a teenage brother and sister who are transported into a bland 1950s tv sitcom world, where everything is in black and white. As they begin to influence this fictional world, it gradually changes to full color.
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DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
January 25, 2024 at 8:25 PM
In "Isn't it Romantic" I believe Rebel Wilson ended up in a romcom?
(Insert picture of Her Awesomeness and of Liam Hemsworth)
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17 jlharv
January 25, 2024 at 8:02 PM
I really can't recommend any cause I'm watching my first of that genre, right now...
ON THAT NOTE, what excellent timing! I've never been able to engage in these Beanie Recs with any fresh input but I can talk a little right now. If someone was to suggest a 'sucked into an alternative world', I would ask if the 3 timelines compliment or contrast each other.
"What are the 3 timelines?", you ask.
1. The Real World Timeline
2. The Alternative World Timeline
and 3. The Cinematic Timeline.
I'm compiling notes and illustrations on how 'W: Two Worlds Apart' does not have complimentary timelines and how much it bothers me. We'll see how I feel when I finish.
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WEnchanteur
January 25, 2024 at 9:24 PM
Hi jihavr, it's a great idea to take notes.
Indeed, the three timelines have differences, there are reasons for that:
- Obviously, the fictional world can't have the same time as the real world. You can spend 7 years in the real world, and tell a 10-year story in the fictional world. It could even be 30 years, if the story also tells of the hero's birth.
- The non-linear order of scenes is used for four reasons:
1. The characters are in the unknown and don't know how it all works. This creates an effect of surprise or wandering. (lost in the unknown, lost in another world)
2. To create cliffhangers and constantly arouse the audience's curiosity, "surprise first, explain later".
3. Speed up the pace of the drama. The montage of 25 sub-scenes at the beginning of episode 3 (lasting about 8 minutes) is typically what is told in more than 30 minutes in another drama.
4. Create a convergence of meaning or focus the order of scenes on what creates maximum tension.
Alas, I can't say any more here, as it's off-topic. We'd have to find another topic to discuss this.
I'll just give a short example, from episode 13, of how the scene order is altered so that the meaning converges towards the same end point, while at the same time creating suspense:
https://iili.io/JcnpIoB.md.png
I love stories set in fictional worlds, which is why I keep coming back to this topic (I've bookmarked it). But most of the time, they're limited to a simple concept.
For example, in "A Never-Ending Story", the boy enters the world of the book at the beginning and leaves it at the end. There are few additional concepts, but one important one: the fictional world is disappearing as people read less and less. Other stories don't even have this, and focus on changing the main character through his or her adventures in the fictional world.
W does more than the fictional world: a high-concept pushed as far as possible throughout the drama. The story in the fictional world is the tip of the iceberg. And the bulk of the iceberg is the operating principle of the supernatural phenomenon and its impact.
For example: What happens when a secondary character is no longer necessary to the story? What happens when the hero does nothing for two months? and so on. The answer is always meta. It's a cerebral drama.
So, to propose W as a story about a journey through a fictional world is a bit of a trap. In reality, we find something else: the transposition of the operating principles of a fictional world into supernatural phenomena with high logic and surprise.
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18 DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
January 25, 2024 at 9:07 PM
How about Galaxy Quest? Though it's a little opposite of everything, but still; the fictive becomes real.
https://giphy.com/gifs/3ohzdNPJYCV4CHIneM
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19 Shinhwa, Legends Never Die
January 27, 2024 at 10:47 PM
Extraordinary You is my favourite in this genre but I've watched quite a lot of low-budget/short dramas, although I can't remember the names of most of the Chinese ones. One Korean one (aimed more at the tween/teen market) is 네가 빠진 세계 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_Jgk5MeB80&list=PL3nr2V1tT_cR-FSMXeVLoIizwNkJx5ifZ&index=2)
Another one that's the opposite scenario - a manhwa character coming into the real world - is Pop Out Boy. This wasn't my style but I know of others who liked it. Both are on Youtube.
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