If you are like me and need to find Kdramas like The WONDERfools that will give you that same crazy, emotional rollercoaster experience, full of unpredictable and heartwarming friendship moments just like the ones found in The B Team, then you are on the right track. There is something uniquely exciting about seeing characters go from average individuals who have to deal with regular struggles such as family trouble, loneliness, romantic misadventures, and money troubles to having incredible abilities. Mix in all of those ingredients with some comedy, old school flair, trauma, and intense action, and you have the magic formula.
The true reason for the success of 원더풀스, however, was not just the superhero concept. What made the show unique was the relationship among Park Eun-bin’s Chae-ni, Cha Eun-woo’s emotionally fragile Un-jeong, and the rest of their dysfunctional friends, played by Im Seong-jae and Choi Dae-hoon, struggling to control their powers without blowing up Haeseong City. The show could successfully move from comedy to tragedy in a matter of seconds, and quite honestly, we couldn’t get enough of the entertainment. From teleportation mishaps to flirtatious encounters, there was nothing like seeing flawed humans make great superheroes.
Therefore, if you have been craving for the kind of excitement brought about by flawed heroes, emotionally scarred main characters, fun camaraderie, and action sequences that somehow manage to exist alongside wholesome friendships, you will definitely love the following dramas. These may be based on characters with supernatural abilities, those that revolve around underdogs who safeguard their fellow citizens, but ultimately share the fun vibe, so here are some of the kdramas similar to The WONDERfools.
Must Watch Kdramas Like The WONDERfools
Cashero
Imagine having such powers, which would instantly become non-existent as soon as you do not have any money left in your account. This is exactly the kind of crazy story told in Cashero, where the protagonist, played by Lee Jun-ho, possesses supernatural powers based on the quantity of money he has in his pockets. The show tells the story of an ordinary government employee who has been granted such supernatural power and who must learn to make the right decisions in his life and not let anyone down.
Just like starring Chae-ni and her gang of friends, the characters portrayed here are not exactly paragons of virtue either. In fact, they tend to get themselves into an even more complicated mess while attempting to sort one out. The dynamics among the cast and the perfect blend of comedy with realistic emotions lend the show a similar atmosphere to that of The WONDERfools. If you loved that aspect, then you’re sure to love Cashero.
Heroes Next Door
Heroes Next Door stars Yoon Kye-sang, Jin Sun-kyu, Kim Ji-hyun, Ko Kyu-pil, and Lee Jung-ha and follows the story of special forces veterans who join forces to safeguard their community after an increase in bomb attacks starts targeting ordinary citizens. The show lacks any superhuman elements but has the same vibe as The WONDERfools because of its combination of madness, fun, emotion, and excitement.
The central theme of this show is how the characters interact with one another. On the outside, Choi Gang, played by Yoon Kye-sang, seems like an idiotic and irresponsible man; however, he is actually a very traumatised individual because of his past life experiences. Furthermore, Kwak Byeong-nam, played by Jin Sun-kyu, always gets into fights with Choi Gang, thus making the most hilarious scenes in the show. Just like Chae-ni’s group, this group gradually transforms into a dysfunctional family that does not hesitate to sacrifice anything for its members.
The Uncanny Counter
The supernatural team drama with an abundance of backstories and epic fight scenes that will scratch your itch is The Uncanny Counter, perhaps. The cast of Jo Byeong-gyu, Kim Se-jeong, Yoo Jun-sang, and Yeom Hye-ran stars in the show about a crew of demon slayers posing as employees of a noodle restaurant and hunting evil spirits living amongst humans. While the fight scenes are bigger compared to those in The WONDERfools, the dramas are very much alike emotionally.
In both series, there is a heavy emphasis on people with lonely hearts finding companionship despite their emotional wounds from past experiences. In a manner similar to Un-jeong, who hides behind his cold demeanour due to his past trauma, The Uncanny Counter deals with people who grapple with loss, grief, and guilt in protecting innocent souls. However, there are no scenes that are too dark, as the cast of the drama always manages to inject humour into the show. The found family aspect alone is enough reason to watch the drama without a miss.
Behind Your Touch
Dramas as weirdly charming as Behind Your Touch do not come often. Starring Han Ji-min, Lee Min-ki, and Suho, Behind Your Touch tells the story of a vet who, after receiving a certain power to read memories by touching other people, finds herself entangled in a web of murder mysteries and suspense.
Those who are fans of The WONDERfools will feel right at home with the small-town settings and the eccentrically lovable characters present in this drama. Similar to Chae-ni’s teleportation issues that land her in nothing but trouble, the heroine’s power always lands her in awkward yet dangerous predicaments. It will not be too difficult to recommend this drama, with its well-balanced mix of romance and mystery.
Strong Girl Bong-soon
Even before the arrival of more heroine characters having superpowers on Kdrama screens, Park Bo-young’s character, Do Bong-soon, managed to win all the hearts then, and it still has a special place. Strong Girl Bong-soon, co-starring Park Hyung-sik and Ji Soo, centres around a girl who was endowed with amazing superpowers right from birth but yearns for peace in life amidst danger all the time.
Like Chae-ni from The WONDERfools, Bong-soon can be described as both endearing and wild, always having trouble controlling herself when using her abilities while being drawn into more and more perilous events. On the other hand, the relationship between Bong-soon and Ahn Min-hyuk makes for the most beautiful pairing ever seen in the realm of Korean dramas. If you enjoyed the fun-loving emotions between Chae-ni and Un-jeong, you’re bound to feel ecstatic while watching this series.
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Hi-Five
Despite being a feature film and not a drama series, Hi-Five seems to have a spiritual connection with The WONDERfools in the most appropriate manner. Featuring actors like Lee Jae-in, Ahn Jae-hong, Yoo Ah-in, and Ra Mi-ran, the film revolves around a bunch of individuals who acquire extraordinary powers through organ transplantations. These powers, which happen to bind them all together somehow, bring them face-to-face with people who intend to make use of these powers for their benefit.
The film comes with that unpredictable element, which is what made it such an interesting watch. Being able to see common people freak out while being in superhero scenarios and gradually building relationships is something that resonates with one in the most awesome way possible. Taking into consideration all that there is to be said about humour, action, emotion and power-related chaos, Hi-Five makes for a great movie choice.
If you guys have any recommendations for us, then do let us know about them in the comments!
