6 K-Dramas Like We Are All Trying Here: The appearance of 모두가 자신의 무가치함과 싸우고 있다 on Netflix is already giving off the vibe of being one of those exceptional instances when a drama not only entertains you but also subtly shakes you up. Created by Cha Young-hoon and penned down by Park Hae-young, the series makes no attempt to hide the fact that its narrative thrives on the absence of evil antagonists and overly dramatic showdowns, opting instead for the depiction of ordinary people’s efforts to keep on living. In spite of only having released two episodes so far, with its plot revolving around weekends, it already exudes an aura of a story being told from the heart.
Starting off with a performance by Koo Kyo-hwan as Hwang Dong-man and Go Youn-jung as Byeon Eun-a, the drama acquaints us with characters that are not easy to describe. While Dong-man is loud and infuriating with his desperation and frustration, one can’t help but be touched by the sheer sincerity that comes from his aspirations. Meanwhile, Eun-a is portrayed as someone who silently crumbles under the pressure that builds up from all the things that she can’t voice out. In addition to them, there is Oh Jung-se as Park Gyeong-se, Kang Mal-geum as Ko Hye-jin, Park Hae-joon as Hwang Jin-man, and Bae Jong-ok as O Jeong-hui.
It is the fact that this drama puts into context that life itself could also be viewed as the antagonist that made this series stick in the minds of viewers. It has no antagonist per se; it is all about insecurity, failure, jealousy, and the never-ending feeling of inadequacy.
From Dong-man yelling out loud to prove himself to anyone who would listen to Eun-a desperately trying to label the intense emotions that she is going through, there is a certain level of vulnerability that is impossible to ignore. (Writing this while I am already anticipating waiting for the next episode in the coming weekends.) If you enjoy dramas that are as emotional and deeply personal as this one, then here are some Kdramas similar to We Are All Trying.
K-Dramas Like We Are All Trying Here
Our Unwritten Seoul
With Park Bo-young playing dual roles as twins Yoo Mi-ji and Yoo Mi-rae, Park Jin-young playing Lee Ho-su, and Ryu Kyung-soo starring as Han Se-jin, this drama begins with what seems like a rather simple premise – twin sisters swapping lives. However, the show soon proves to be more than that and becomes quite personal.
Just like Dong-man and Eun-a in We Are All Trying Here, Mi-ji and Mi-rae are both struggling to distance themselves from aspects of themselves that they detest. While the switch may seem like a mere change in scenery, the twins are simply seeking escape from the pressure, disappointment, and failures that life has dealt them thus far. Additionally, there is something quite similar about the way in which the supporting characters have been developed in each drama; they serve a purpose other than merely moving the story along. Each character has been crafted carefully, giving them their own set of flaws and secrets, and allowing them to find unique ways to cope with their burdens.
Daily Dose of Sunshine
Starring Park Bo-young as Jung Da-eun, this is another drama that brings you inside a hospital room, but here, rather than getting too serious or clinical, it makes you experience human emotion in its rawest form. Here, we are not looking at labels; we are experiencing emotions that may not even have names.
In seeing how Eun-a is dealing with a set of undefined emotions, anger, sadness, and helplessness that she is unable to name, I see a lot of similarities between this drama and the other. There are instances where we don’t know how things began to go terribly wrong until we find ourselves caught up in it all.
My Liberation Notes
Another brilliant drama written by Park Hae-young and featuring an impressive cast consisting of Kim Ji-won, Lee Min-ki, and Son Suk-ku, the drama is not attempting to wow its audience with anything—this quiet story is going to make you get absorbed without realising it.
While If We Are All Trying Here is about a long-term pain that takes away from people their energy, My Liberation Notes is about living in constant pain that one experiences all the time. The heroes are not pursuing any goals; they simply do what is needed to survive in a world that does not give them any rest. It seems perfectly natural that the frustration of Dong-man and the emotional tiredness of Eun-a fit into such a setting.
Move to Heaven
With Lee Je-hoon in the role of Cho Sang-gu and Tang Joon-sang as Han Geu-ru, the series follows the lives of trauma cleaners who arrange the things of the dead and bring their hidden stories to light. Although these two dramas may seem worlds apart at first glance, in terms of emotions, there is little to no difference between them. The fact that both dramas teach that we all have a story, but most of us don’t get noticed for our tales, is a reminder that people like Dong-man and Eun-a lived and breathed in the world of Move to Heaven.
Be Melodramatic
With Chun Woo-hee portraying Lim Jin-joo, Jeon Yeo-been portraying Lee Eun-jung, and Han Ji-eun portraying Hwang Han-joo, it is an entertainment that perfectly blends comedy and pain to create something incredibly organic.
The drama is a mixture of Dong-man’s vibrant chaos and Eun-a’s inner turmoil – all wrapped up in some incredibly complex people. They are flawed, they are aware of their flaws, and they can even be downright irritating at times. But that is exactly what makes them real. It’s easy to find yourself laughing one minute and then suddenly overwhelmed by something deeply emotional the very next.
My Mister
With an excellent cast consisting of Lee Sun-kyun and IU as the main characters of the series, Park Dong-hoon and Lee Ji-an, respectively, this is another drama I think I’ll never forget! Written by Park Hae-young, this drama is all about loneliness, survival, and the comforting experience of being understood by another person.
If the relationship between Dong-man and Eun-a progresses further, then it is bound to have parallels with the one found in My Mister. The reason is not that it is all about mending each other and solving problems, but rather it revolves around finding a soulmate in whom you can trust and open up to. Both dramas share many similarities, where the emotions shared between the characters weigh heavily upon your mind.
Do you have any recommendations for dramas such as We Are All Trying Here? Let me know in the comments below!
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