Good movies are entertaining. They offer us escapism during our darkest hour. They force us to reflect on the direction in which our society is heading. During times of great polarization, they manage to bring us together as a community and make us cheer, laugh, and weep in union. 2023 was definitely chock full of such examples, and I rewatched many of them more than once. The only downside of releasing so many amazing films within a span of 365 days was that, due to a variety of reasons that ranged from accessibility to not having the bandwidth to consume quality cinema, I couldn’t watch all of them. Even though it’s obvious, I have to explicitly state that the ones mentioned in this list are my favorites out of the films that I got to watch. And even though I rated around 130 films positively, in order to make the cut, the biggest criteria was that they had to be memorable. So, just in case you don’t see a “good film” here, it was either forgettable or I haven’t watched it yet. With that out of the way, let’s talk about the best movies of the year.

Knock at the Cabin

A movie has to be truly amazing to be released in the January–March period and be remembered till the end of the year. M. Night Shyamalan’s latest is that kind of film. I have thought about the performances, the themes, its bursts of panic-ridden brutality, and that bittersweet conclusion over and over again. In a just world, this would’ve won all the awards.

M3GAN

I didn’t know how relevant this modern take on a haunted doll would be, but the ever-growing presence of artificial intelligence has turned this horror film into the most prescient commentary on the times that lie ahead of us. By the way, given how Akela Cooper has already penned iconic films like Malignant, M3GAN, and The Nun II, I think she should try her hand at direction now.

John Wick: Chapter 4

Everything that has been said about the magnificence of its action set pieces is true. Everything that has been said about its visual storytelling and sound design is true. And it is truly insane that even after watching John Wick: Chapter 4 six times, it still manages to make my jaw drop during a rewatch.

Evil Dead Rise

I have always heard (and maybe even uttered) the phrases that life imitates art and art imitates life. But it was during my fourth re-watch of Evil Dead Rise that the elevator in my mall started malfunctioning, and the elevator sequence from the film started flashing before my eyes. Well, the adrenaline high actually made the viewing experience more immersive, that’s for sure.

Kathal

The basic premise of the film seemed really absurd. But as the investigation progressed, the commentary on casteism and the abuse of power became apparent. In addition to that, the critical lens through which it viewed the police—something that many mainstream Indian films refuse to do—was genuinely refreshing, and it set the bar for how law enforcement agencies should be portrayed.

Huesera: The Bone Woman

Every time I crack a single bone in my body, I am reminded of this movie; that’s how effective it is. Beyond the amazing sound design and physically demanding performance, though, it made a lasting expression for the way it put the audience in the shoes of a queer woman struggling with her identity.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

A true-blue animated masterpiece that I wish wasn’t brought to life by overworking and underpaying animators. I watch and re-watch Across the Spider-Verse‘s scenes on a weekly basis, because that’s how good the movie is, but there’s always that niggling feeling at the back of my head that reminds me how unfairly crushing it was for the crew to get it made.

Nimona

The story of how Nimona was almost killed by Disney (who gave the most critical and theatrical flops this year, BTW) and was then resurrected by Netflix is as thrilling as the movie itself. And I think we should all feel lucky that we got to experience this hilarious, heart-wrenching, and furiously queer film. I would’ve paid good money to watch it on the big screen.

Satyaprem Ki Katha

This is the only good film that Kartik Aaryan has ever been in. It’s also the best film of Kiara Advani’s career. Luckily, word-of-mouth made Satyaprem Ki Katha a commercial hit. So, I can hope that there’ll be more films about loser men learning about their privilege and then using it to champion women who are traversing through this patriarchal society.

Barbie

I think it was really surprising and fun to see people show up at the theater dressed in some shade of pink, click pictures at the photo booth, and then thoroughly engage with the movie in question. Also, as a longtime fan of Ryan Gosling, it was satisfying to see people become his fans while watching Barbie.

The Roundup: No Way Out

Ma Dong-seok bodying a bunch of goons is one of the most cinematic things in existence. It’s simple and effective, and the great thing is that Ma Dong-seok knows that, and I hope that he milks this enjoyable trope endlessly.

Jawan

The movie was so good that it made me visit single-screen theaters located in the most remote sections of my city and observe how differently it was being received by people from all walks of life. That was how I ended up watching Jawan seven times on the big screen. I don’t know if any other movie will be able to beat that number.

Killers of the Flower Moon

It’s an honor to be in the presence of a Martin Scorsese film. There’s a generation gap between this legend and the people who are making films nowadays, and it’s mind-blowing to see him take them to the cleaners like it is a walk in the park while making such spine-chilling points about the banality of evil.

Blue Sunshine

Everyone who wants to put a stop to cis-het actors taking on trans roles and telling trans stories should drop everything and watch Samyuktha Vijayan’s Neela Nira Sooriyan, when it gets a wide release after its film festival run. Everyone who thinks otherwise should watch it, too. In fact, everyone who has the luxury and time to watch a film should give this a go. If it’s not clear yet, this is my favorite movie of the year.

Dhai Aakhar

This is the second film festival release that I want everyone to watch when it gets a wide release. If you are chronically online, you’ll see people endlessly talking about a romantic film set in the mountains that features Shah Rukh Khan and Tabu. Yes, this is that film, except it stars Harish Khanna and Mrinal Kulkarni, who effortlessly deliver two of the best performances of the year. And that’s why it deserves all the love and attention in the world.

Deep Fridge

This is the third film festival release that I want to see on everyone’s watchlists so that they can watch it when it gets a wide release. Also, I think this is the first time in the last 5–6 years that I have mentioned a Bengali film in a “best movies of the year list,” and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Either way, you must watch it for Tnusree’s fantastic performance and Arjunn Dutta’s delicate filmmaking.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Despite being a victim of a staggered release, this oddball take on one of the most iconic vigilante teams in pop culture managed to make me feel like a child again who used to fight with his friends about being the Raphael of the group.

Merry Little Batman

This might be my recency bias speaking, but Merry Little Batman is one of the funniest and most heartfelt movies of the year. On top of that, it’s one of the best Christmas movies of all time.

The Peasants

I don’t follow award season discourse nowadays, but if I were in charge of all the awards in the world, especially the ones for animation, I would’ve given them to The Peasants.

Asteroid City

December is one of the most exhausting times of the year because you are not only catching up with the movies and shows that you have missed, but you are also trying to keep up with all the holiday releases. That usually causes me to not watch anything new until the next year. I feel that it’s a good practice because it allows your mind to cool down and watch a film (or a show) from a fresh perspective. However, I abandoned my principles when I saw a Wes Anderson film on a “worst movies of the year” list because I simply couldn’t believe it. Well, now we are here because Wes Anderson can’t make bad films. That’s the bottom line.

Talk To Me

I am not sure if all the people who have used Richard Carter’s “Le Monde” in their Instagram reels have watched Talk To Me or not, because if they knew about the negative connotations of the scene that featured that track, they would have had second thoughts about editing their trip to the Maldives to that music. As for the movie itself, it’s one of the best horror movies I have watched this year, and I have watched plenty of horror movies in 2023.

Joram

It’s a shame that this Manoj Bajpayee-led film didn’t receive its due during its theatrical run. Well, I hope it finds a second life when it arrives on a streaming platform. In this climate, it’s tough to come across anti-establishment films that also dare to comment on casteism and classism while being really well-made from every perceivable angle. But Joram is all that and more.

12th Fail

I can’t explain the joy I felt while watching all the long takes in 12th Fail. The themes, the storytelling, and the performances were undoubtedly commendable. But the filmmaking was so good that it brought me to the edge of my seat so that I could truly appreciate the artistry on display. Vidhu Vinod Chopra and his team deserve all the applause that’s coming their way.

Honorable Mentions

Now, it’s time for the honorable mentions, i.e., films that didn’t quite make the cut but were good enough to get a shoutout. Oppenheimer was good, but the great Christopher Nolan decided to send a censored copy of his film to India, and hence, it won’t get full marks from me. Joyland, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Project Wolf Hunting, A Man Called Otto, and The Other Shape were victims of a staggered release, but that didn’t stop them from impressing me. Despite being at the helm of the death of the theatrical experience, Netflix released some good movies like Jung_E, Ballerina, AKA, Dream, Marry My Dead Body, Sister Death, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, Kill Boksoon, Qorin, Hunger, Extraction 2, Mother’s Day, Phenomena, and Furies. Apple put their back into promoting Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon, and then they probably forgot to highlight Tetris, even though it’s pretty amazing.

I know that it’s blasphemy to enjoy mainstream movies as a cinephile, but I loved watching The Super Mario Brothers Movie, Scream VI, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, The Great Indian Family, and Meg 2: The Trench on the big screen. Horror movies like The Last Voyage of the Demeter, Cobweb, Birth/Rebirth, and No One Will Save You were a blast. Anger Tales was one of the only anthology films from this year that I really liked, especially the story about the local film theater. Miguel Wants to Fight was so hilarious, and it had some of the funniest action scenes I have ever seen. Yannick was darkly humorous as it beautifully dissected the relationship between an artist, the audience, and the critic. Reality is here solely because of Sydney Sweeney’s riveting performance. Neeyat was a great whodunit, and it was fueled by queer vengeance.

Ghoomer featured career-defining performances from Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher. As a huge fan of Takashi Miike, it was a privilege to watch Lumberjack the Monster on the big screen. The sumptuous visuals and heavy atmosphere crafted by Kenneth Branagh and his team in A Haunting in Venice made for a nightmare-inducing viewing experience. Finally, and contrary to popular opinion, I vibed a lot with John Woo’s Silent Night because I love John Woo. And those are just my favorite movies of the year. Please, share your favorites in the comments and let’s celebrate good cinema.

Quality is a given when it comes to most Korean content. Even in the shows that we have found to have terrible storytelling, some milestones have been achieved in terms of set design, concept, or even acting. Regardless, the decision to declare a drama good or bad depends solely on the cumulative effect of all these factors. Additionally, it cannot be debated that writing can make or break a story. Therefore, as the year comes to an end, we will be listing out the best and worst dramas of the year, starting with the worst and slowly making our way up to the winners.

10. Black Knight

To call this a disappointment is an understatement. It was adapted from a manga of the same name and was supposed to be the return of Kim Woo Bin, an actor we have missed seeing on screen. Yet, the story was a massive disservice to the expectations of the fans who were eagerly waiting for it. The writing was choppy, the character building was unimpressive, and overall, the show was simply boring. Perhaps the biggest drawback was the series’ lack of style. You can’t have a dystopian fighter story like Black Knight and an actor like Kim Woo Bin, only for it to look and sound so bland. This was a serious letdown.

9. Strong Girl Nam Soon

This may be a controversial choice since the series has enjoyed some popularity. However, we have to remember that it was because of the fanbase of its predecessor show, Strong Girl Bong Soon, and the actor, Byeon Woo Seok, who played the villain Ryu Si O. If not for these two factors, the series would have gone unnoticed, as it should have. The writing was terrible; most characters were painfully one-dimensional, and some of the more talented actors were completely underutilized. Not to mention the humor of the series, which was gimmicky to a fault. In so many ways, this show was just painful to watch. Strong Girl Nam Soon had its moments, but when you compare it to the standards expected of it, this was an absolute failure.

8. Queenmaker

This drama is one of those cases where stories based on social issues are executed in a painfully gimmicky manner. This was supposed to be a feminist tale, and it was proclaimed as such. Queenmaker also had a primarily female cast, yet the story itself was so performative that we wished it had just been promoted as another run-of-the-mill drama. It wasn’t even trying to play it safe; it was just completely wrong in terms of its understanding of women’s issues and what it means to be a woman in power. The lack of that understanding is what made the story so subpar and has placed this drama among the worst of the year.

7. I love to hate you

To be fair, this drama is quite watchable. Our irritation with it lies, once again, in its forced feminism. Don’t use feminism as a gimmick for a story, especially when you are getting it so wrong. That is what made the female lead so unlikeable at times and gave the series the kind of final conflict that was seriously nauseating. Had it been presented as just another love story, it would have been excellent and a good way to pass the time. But these forced issues, with no accountability for the men and a painful lack of nuance or intelligence, made this difficult to sit through at times.

6. The Fabulous

This is the drama we would call a ‘beige flag.’ It was watchable, but far from fabulous. In so many ways, The Fabulous was supposed to push the envelope in terms of its commentary on what went on behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. That is what was supposed to make the characters fabulous. But once again, the drama suffered from the curse of playing it too safe. It was highly upsetting that we did not even get some good fashion moments, which were supposed to be at the center of the concept.

5. Celebrity

This was one of the most talked-about Korean dramas of 2023 and essentially shot Park Gyu Young to stardom. We agree that Celebrity is another highly watchable drama, but the absolute binary of the good and evil influencers, without any grace or sensitivity to the subject at hand, was simply laughable. We had previously said that this show was written by someone who “loved to hate influencers” and that it is not nearly as funny, exciting, or even thrilling in this day and age. This is why we have such mixed feelings about this drama.

4. Doona

This is a drama we actually liked a lot. The performances were predictably good, but what stayed with us was the sensitive look at the relationships between people, not just the lead pair. It clearly showed the complications of being with someone who has a fair share of mental health issues to deal with and the kind of responsibility on both partners to understand and get through the same. One of the better parts of the drama was how Doona, the titular character, was able to express her complications and apologize for them. Her understanding of the problems she created and the way she tried to solve them with communication and accountability were admirable. We would place this on the list of compulsory watches of the year.

3. Castaway Diva

This is one story that stays with you a long time after you finish watching it. The grace of the writing, the sensitivity and care of the love story, and the struggles of the characters all add beautiful layers to the drama. We did not expect to love this drama so much, but it is simply one of those stories that we can talk about forever. It’s difficult to put into words just how much we like Castaway Diva, so it’s best to simply watch it. However, one hint that we can give is that the characters that will stay with you are Yoon Ran Joo and Kang Woo Hak.

2. King the Land

No drama has done romance better than King the Land, at least not in the last few years. To have a story only about love without the interference of any other elements is a dream come true. Lee Jun Ho’s ‘Gu Won’ wins over Song Kang’s ‘Gu Won’ any day. The only flaw of this drama is that it ended too soon, and perhaps Im Yoona wasn’t given a better wedding dress in the finale. Other than that, this is the drama to watch if you want to see what impossible ‘boyfriend standards’ look like. Also, Lee Jun Ho’s smile is everything, and the more you stare at it, the better.

Twinkling Watermelon

This drama has gone viral on social media, and with good reason. You will laugh, cry, and rewatch everything, and you will probably want to give the people around you a big hug at the end of it all. We are suckers for time travel dramas of any kind, and this one has our hearts with the introduction of the coolest ‘ahjussi’ and an ‘ahjumma’ whose silence was indeed the most beautiful we have ever seen. Do not miss this one.

This list comes nowhere close to encompassing the best and worst of the year. Some honorable mentions would be See You in My 19th Life, Daily Dose of Sunshine, A Time Called You, and Doctor Cha. The last one is especially addictive. We have also loved a Korean movie called Kill Boksoon, which had the kind of style that we usually look for in action movies. These are all just our top picks from the content we have managed to see this year. If you have any other suggestions, please let us know in the comments, and we would love to check them out.

Nobody pays to watch a bad film. Every single person who loves films wants to have a memorable viewing experience at the cinema hall or from the comfort of their homes. And those who have an inkling of what it takes to make a movie are usually forgiving if they aren’t the target audience of the filmmaker or if they just didn’t vibe with it on that particular day. So, you can imagine how abhorrent a movie needs to be to not just ruin an individual’s trip to the theater but also make them rant about it for days, weeks, and maybe even months. I mean, out of all the movies that I have rated negatively (the number is probably around 130), I have forgotten about most of them. However, the ones that are on this list are so stinky that I have to address their existence and state why they deserve to be labeled as one of the worst movies of the year. There’s a good chance you won’t see some of the propaganda films that were released, and that’s because I didn’t even bother to watch them.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Marvel is truly in its flop era, and the reason is multifold. The movies are bad, yes. The behind-the-scenes treatment of its crew, especially the VFX and CGI artists, is abysmal. That said, this one takes the cake because it has Bill Murray, Evangeline Lilly, and Jonathan Majors in its cast—a real treasure trove of bad actors. And on top of that, it is guilty of unceremoniously booting Emma Fuhrmann, who acted the hell out of her scene in Endgame as Cassie Lang, and replacing her with Kathryn Newton, an actress who can’t act even if her life depends on it.

Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar

If the film was just a compilation of dance numbers, featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, it wouldn’t have been on this list. The reason Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar is on this list is because it ruins the enjoyment factor of those dance numbers with its oddly regressive and misogynistic plot. And the director is a horrible human being.

Bholaa

Bollywood is famous for bad remakes. So, it’s not a surprise that Bholaa is a bad remake of the beloved Tamil film, Kaithi. It’s the fact that Ajay Devgn decided to make one of the character traits of Dilli—his religion—the central focus of the titular character of his film for no other reason than to cater to majoritarian sentiments. And I am glad that it didn’t work out for him and the movie.

Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan

The people of Tamil Nadu are still recovering from the stereotypes peddled by Chennai Express, and then Farhad Samji decided that they deserved something worse and made Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. To add insult to injury, Salman Khan inflicted his romance upon Pooja Hegde and his “unique” dance moves on the audience. By the way, it’s truly impressive that Samji remade an egregiously bad movie (Veeram) and still managed to make the original look like a masterpiece. That’s talent, right there.

The Flash

It’s truly wild that, despite all the off-screen (criminal) shenanigans circling around Ezra Miller, Warner Brothers decided to release this movie. FYI, they have canceled multiple projects in the past few months and deleted (or at least dangled the threat of deletion) classic and recent IPs from their streaming platforms to avoid paying royalties. Warner Brothers thought that it was okay to stand beside a film that resurrected dead actors via the most horrendous CGI and VFX my eyes have ever seen. I still want to know what version of The Flash was shown to Tom Cruise and Stephen King that made them go gaga over it.

Adipurush

Everything from its intent to its marketing reeked of pure malice, and the way it was rejected by almost everyone who watched it was really satisfying. The only good thing to come out of Adipurush was probably that photo of Saif torturing Ibrahim and Taimur with a theatrical viewing of this masterpiece.

Tiku Weds Sheru

It’s a Kangana Ranaut production. Need I say more?

Bawaal

Jonathan Glazer made The Zone of Interest, a film about the persecution of the Jewish community by Germany, which is told from the perspective of the Nazis to show how genocide can be normalized. A simple history lesson will show you how that led to the formation of Israel. We all know what Israel is doing to Palestine. Surprisingly enough, Germany decided to stand beside Israel. While India was forming really polarizing opinions about the Israel-Palestine conflict, Nitesh Tiwari drew parallels between the persecution of Jews and the marriage between Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor’s characters. Let that sink in!

Gadar 2

I hadn’t watched Gadar till the day before the release of Gadar 2. I was aware that the original was a hugely successful film, and by the time I realized the discriminatory reason behind said success, it was too late to back out of the theatrical viewing of the legacy sequel. I have survived a few earthquakes. I have been in several traffic collisions. But I can confidently say that watching Gadar 2 was one of the most traumatizing and painful things I had to endure.

Dream Girl 2

The commercial failure of Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, Anek, Doctor G, and An Action Hero probably paved the way for this abomination. While those involved in the making of Dream Girl 2 are partially responsible, since we watched it and celebrated it enough to make it a box-office hit, please don’t be surprised when Raaj Shaandilyaa and Ayushmann Khurrana unite to make something even more cringe-worthy and regressive.

Raktabeej

It was only a matter of time before the seeds of hyper-aggressive nationalism and bigotry started growing in movie industries outside of Bollywood, and well, it’s here. It’s a shame that legends like Victor Banerjee and Anashua Majumdar were involved in the making of this “film.” Also, it has a song called “Gobindo Dat Maje Na,” which is worse than the plot.

Animal

Morally corrupt “artists” made a morally corrupt product, and it was celebrated by morally corrupt people. And those who said that it’s just a movie and that those who appreciated it shouldn’t be judged, please know that, at the time of writing this article, it’s being referenced by the most bigoted sections of the community to incite hatred against minorities. Unless and until you speak up on that, it simply means you are okay with such hate-mongering. Sandeep Reddy Vanga, Pranay Reddy Vanga, Ranbir Kapoor, and several members of the filmmaking community have endorsed its “themes” without a hint of irony or self-awareness, while crying endlessly about the criticism that’s being leveled against this “film.” The only thing worse than Animal is the promise of a sequel to Animal.

The Archies

While I know or can assume the intention behind the making of the films on this list, I am truly clueless about the existence of The Archies. It’s a waste of talent. It’s a waste of resources. It’s a waste of time.

Salaar

Prashant Neel made KGF: Chapter 1, and it was riddled with technical flaws. He rectified most of them in KGF: Chapter 2, and it ended up being one of the best films of 2022. Salaar: Part 1 Ceasefire is not just a mess in terms of the narrative; its visual storytelling is headache-inducing. So, it’s safe to assume that Salaar Part 2—Shouryaanga Parvam—is going to be a masterpiece.

Rabindra Kabya Rahasya

As a Bengali, I couldn’t stand this eyesore of a film that not only tried to spoil Rabindranath Tagore’s legacy but also made a feeble attempt at invoking some form of nationalism. Thankfully, Rabindranath Tagore’s legacy is too rich to be tainted by an incompetent filmmaker, and the topic of nationalism has become oversaturated.

Dishonorable Mentions

Now, it’s time for some “dishonorable” mentions because they aren’t bad enough to make it to the list, but they are bad enough to deserve a shoutout. Chris Evans was in Ghosted and Pain Hustlers, and both of them were painful to sit through. It’s surprising that Kabzaa was released in the same year as Prashanth Neel’s movie came out, but it’s really cool that the blueprint and the KGF rip-off are in the same article. Kuttey is what happens when you allow an amateur with surface-level ideas about communism to helm a multistarrer. Sara Ali Khan was in Gaslight and Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, which is some sort of achievement, I think. Mummies felt racist, to be honest. Movies like Gumraah, Kiss, Kiss!, and Chengiz reeked of insensitivity. Simulant was criminally boring. The editing in The Mother and Bloody Daddy was nauseating. Ravanasura, Pathu Thala, Virupaksha, Boo, and Veera Simha Reddy broke the myth that “the South” (a generalization that the North loves to partake in after watching RRR) only makes good movies. Almost Pyaar DJ Mohabbat proved that Anurag Kashyap has run out of juice. Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury deserves some kind of award for giving us Lost and Kadak Singh in the same year. Ponniyin Selvan II was torturous. Jaane Jaan forgot to have well-lit scenes. Fukrey 3 literally and figuratively urinated on its wholesome and fun legacy. And Disney, in general, should be called out for everything that they put out this year because it was embarrassing in every way imaginable. But that’s just me. Please feel free to share your worst movie-watching experiences of 2023 so that we can feel a little better by sharing our miseries.

It is important to understand why people who have watched Last Call for Istanbul are so obsessed with it. Was it the first half, where it looked like two people had met their soulmates after being married to different people, or was it the twist that changed everything about the story, or was it simply the slow unfolding of the love story? Either way, it is a guarantee that nobody will have the same feelings about the first half and the second half of the movie, and those feelings will further change when the movie is watched a second or third time. Depending on the many emotions and moods of the movie, the following is a list of others like it that may feel similar.

1. La La Land

This recommendation is here for a very specific reason, which is that it does what Last Call for Istanbul fails to do. The Turkish film had a rushed ending, which felt very unsatisfying because of the lack of discussion and thought behind it. After all, the couple had been committed to therapy; they had gone to great lengths to test the advice of the therapists and come to reasonable conclusions and doubts based on it. Yet, in the end, they ended up together not because of conscious deliberation and discussion based on love but simply in a burst of emotion. While the exact opposite happens in La La Land, and the couple go their own separate ways, they still grow as people because they are thinking in terms of their careers, lives, and overall well-being and whether they fit with each other or not. Because of this very difference, La La Land is a good movie to watch next.

2. Outlander

Granted that this is not a movie but a many-season-long series, however, this brings together the best of every love story. Claire and Jamie are so underratedly iconic that it is simply too sad. With their story, there is the passion, the understanding, the adjustment, and so much excitement that Mehmet and Serin’s night out in New York barely holds a candle to it. There are also many complications and so many decisions, but the simple magic of the story lies in how the two intelligently fight for their love through their separation and togetherness. This series is extremely addictive, and all love stories will pale in comparison to this one.

3. Set it up

Modern problems require modern solutions, and the modern-est solution of all is to leave behind the cheaters and focus on yourself. You get these lessons together and apart in the movie Set It Up. While therapy and recovery of the relationship were not the crux of Last Call for Istanbul, it was evident that Mehmet and Serin were not rational people when it came to each other. To explain that, our definition of rationality is that the person holds themselves in equal esteem with their partner. That happens in Set It Up, and it will make sense as a sequel if watched with this attitude.

4. Fingernails

The reason this movie is on the list is because it makes you think, like Last Call for Istanbul did. In many ways, Fingernails is also a contradiction of thoughts and feelings. Set in the future, where people know for sure if they are with their soulmates or not through a scientific test, Fingernails is the story of a woman who has found her person, but she has more feelings for another man. In such a situation, there is no amount of therapy or rationality that can help, and she simply succumbs to following her heart in quite a brutal way. If giving in to your feelings without fear of consequences had to look like something, we would prefer it to look like “fingernails.”

5. Flora and Son

This is yet another movie where love is intelligently handled with life, and that is our favorite kind. It is the story of a mother and son who do not like each other until the mother starts taking music lessons in an effort to understand her son, and that ends up bringing them together. While the movie may primarily be about them, Flora has her own love story going on in the background, and it is one of the sweetest things we have seen, with some beautifully natural chemistry between the actors. The fact is that neither Flora nor her boyfriend are going anywhere; being together requires more than just love for them, and it is something they have to work on every day through some difficult decisions. It is a matter of deciding which relationships matter more and how much they are willing to risk to do the right thing. Flora and Son is simply a beautiful movie and should not be missed.

6. Our beloved summer

This is another Korean drama, and it is pure magic in so many ways. While it delivers a more than healthy dose of laughter, it also shows the complications of a relationship through the lens of some very personal struggles. Unlike Last Call for Istanbul, where Mehmet and Serin skip the talk on their personal insecurities and development as people, Our Beloved Summer makes it a point to address how it is important to heal as people before including someone in our lives. This drama was a smash hit when it was released, and it would be nice if it was talked about more. Nevertheless, it remains an important story to watch simply because it is entertaining and layered.

7. At the Moment: Episode 3 and Episode 4

At the Moment is an anthology, so both the episodes mentioned are very different stories. They deal with people involved in complicated situations with their partners, and though episode 4 is a favorite, episode 3 is worth it because the man is extremely handsome, and the story is stupidly funny. Its comparison to Last Call for Istanbul is because these are stories where there are actual grounds for the debate of whether the couple should be together or not. No amount of intelligence or emotion is enough to justify them being together or separating to go different ways. Essentially, through their possibilities, they are simply some stories that make you question love as an emotion, and that makes them worth a watch.

There are two types of shows that make you want to watch more of them. The first is when they are too good, and the second is when they exhibit potential but don’t deliver on it. It is up to you to decide which category Strong Girl Nam Soon falls under. In the meantime, the following is a list to go through while you decide on your next watch.

1. Strong Girl Bong Soon

This is perhaps the most obvious choice to follow up on Strong Girl Nam Soon. If you want to see a strong girl taking on bad guys and winning her love, the predecessor of the current show is a magical story elevated by the chemistry between the leads that is unmatched to this day. On the other hand, if you want a reminder of the standard that Nam Soon failed to live up to, Bong Soon’s show is a good watch. If you have already watched Strong Girl Bong Soon, there is nothing wrong with refreshing your memory with this classic, especially since there are talks of a season 3, which may likely have the two leading ladies from both shows make an appearance.

2. Behind Your Touch

There is no point in denying that this drama will demand some of your patience, but then, so did Strong Girl Nam Soon. The reason for this recommendation is that it is nice to see the leads work together as a team, which we saw very little of in ‘Nam Soon.’ The love story in Strong Girl Bong Soon is one of the reasons the show is so iconic, and that same thing was not given any time at all in the successor show. That is why if it is teamwork and chemistry that you want to see, Behind Your Touch is a great watch. It must also be mentioned that the body comedy of the actors is absolutely wonderful and is a study in itself.

3. Extraordinary Attorney Woo

Another iconic drama, Extraordinary Attorney Woo became an instant fan favorite because of the lead couple’s dynamic. The way the man was able to artfully step back and let the woman handle her own issues while knowing how to be there for her was a rare sight. Additionally, he has a very pretty smile, and it reminds us of Ahn Min Hyuk of Strong Girl Bong Soon in so many ways. If only Hee Sik in Strong Girl Nam Soon had been given the chance, he would have brought something similar to the table. But the reason for this recommendation is that though Attorney Woo does not have a superpower like Nam Soon, she knows how to identify and work with her strengths and weaknesses, which is what makes her so extraordinary, perhaps more than Nam Soon herself.

4. Mr. Queen

This may look like an odd recommendation, but once you start watching the drama, you know why it makes sense. In the Strong Girl franchise, the women are fish out of water and are trying to make the best of their situations. The oddball nature is also possessed by the lead character, Mr. Queen, and her superpower is that she knows the future because she comes from it. Mr. Queen also shares the Strong Girl brand of friendly sexism in that since it is a man inside a woman’s body, he knows that the sky’s the limit, and that attitude is a surprise for everyone. Most of all, it is an easy watch with a lot of feel-good moments and lots of healthy cringes.

5. Doom at Your Service

Are there any fans of the Ryu Si-O and Nam Soon pairing? That is the more popular couple in the drama, and they have better chemistry as well. The point is that it is nice to see a bad guy turn healthy for his lady love once in a while, no matter how outdated and dangerous the concept might be. That is why Doom at Your Service may be a good watch because watching the leads fall in love with one another while knowing that there is going to be a world of trouble to come along with it is a treat. They overcome the worst of themselves to be good enough for their love, and sometimes, it is all the validation in the world a person needs.

6. Hotel Del Luna

It is a show where the woman has superpowers, and the man is the one who leads her down a path of good while fighting some terrible demons within herself and others. We may also say that this is a better-written show than Strong Girl Nam Soon. The heroine is appropriately sassy, the man is completely no-nonsense yet has a tender way of dealing with tantrums, and overall, it has a consistently fun vibe that is far from the tiringly chaotic nature of “Nam Soon.” It is a good show to put on next.

7. As good as it Gets

The reason we recommend this is because it is a guess that this is what falling in love with a villain must be like. Don’t get us wrong, Jack Nicholson does not play a villain, but he plays the role of a very difficult man. He falls first for the woman, and she has a difficult time reciprocating his emotions, but she finds herself there for reasons she doesn’t understand. These two clash a lot because of their personalities, and as exasperating as the woman finds him, once you are in love, there is nothing you can do. No doubt the movie has a happy ending, but it gives food for thought as to what makes the seemingly ‘bad’ guys attractive and whether it is wiser to love them through romanticization or through some exasperating practicality.

8. Kill Boksoon

There is an art to keeping the bad guys with a romantic interest in you at arm’s length, and Boksoon knows that. It also helps that the fight scenes are a treat to look at. She does not have the physical strength of Boksoon, but she has the smarts and an attitude that is to die for. This is a far better representation of what strength and the accompanying vulnerabilities look like, and it is a movie that should not be missed.

When you love a story, you want more of it, and since we all like Doona or are obsessed with it in some capacity, it is only fair that we hunt down others who are like the series to watch until season 2 is announced. Here is a list to keep up your spirits while we wonder about Doona and Won Jun’s future.

1. Doom At Your Service

We never understood why this drama remained so underrated. It is one of those love stories where the chemistry was so evident between the leads, and there was also a deep complexity to the characters and their journey in being able to be with each other. Park Bo Young and her expressions will always be famous, and Seo In Guk, being the stoic and lonely doom with that handsome mole on his face, made sure we kept wanting to see more of him. It is simply one of those dramas where you are not just entertained, but the story stays with you for ages after, much like Doona, where you would always find yourself revisiting the characters and their motivations throughout.

2. Nevertheless

Since we had a ‘mysterious’ woman in Doona, it is time for a mysterious man in Nevertheless. Yoo Na Bin likes Park Jae Eon right away, but both leads have a lot to unpack within themselves and each other that complicates their relationship. Much like Doona, theirs is a case of feelings getting complicated by habits, a lack of communication, and a general unawareness about their desires and their reluctance to be brave about them. It is one of those relationships that feel like a situationship until a ‘make or break’ point is reached. To put a finer point on it, it also reminds us of Taylor Swift’s famous lines from Blank Space, where she describes how things are taken way too far because the heart is still young and reckless. Just watch this drama and be driven to the edge of your seat with frustration.

3. Start Up

One of the reasons this drama became such a runaway hit was because of the actor, Kim Seon Ho. But to discuss the storyline, we see another story that is complicated by people’s perceptions of their inadequacies. Just like Won Jun struggled with feeling that his life wouldn’t fit with Doona, the characters here struggle to understand how their ambitions and personalities would be able to mesh together for a life with each other. Our advice would be to not get distracted by Kim Seon Ho’s arresting dimples and focus on the series if you want to watch something like Doona.

4. Our Beloved Summer

One reason we loved Doona so much was because of its ability to keep things lighthearted while dealing with darker issues. Our Beloved Summer toes a similar line by being a laugh riot but addressing the painful pasts of the protagonists in the background. The series feels like a bit of a roller coaster and doesn’t require much patience to want to binge-watch it. It will similarly frustrate you, but unlike Doona, the protagonists don’t immediately communicate, and most of their problems are of their own creation. Either way, this show is such an endearing must-watch, and while it was a hit, we are just disappointed that it doesn’t seem to have made its way into long-term public memory. Either way, don’t miss out on this.

5. Love To Hate You

First of all, this show gets its feminism very wrong, and we would advise you to ignore that if you plan on watching it. The reason it is on this list is because the guy is the celebrity in this while the girl is the commoner, so the dynamics of Doona have been a bit reversed. It is funny and sweet for the most part, and probably a bit rushed with some subplots. The tone of it is also very far from that of Doona, but in a sense, these are struggles that we understand, and it is a welcome change from the vagueness of Doona and Won Jun’s conflicts in the latter half of their love story. It is not a bad show to follow up after Doona.

6. See You In My 19th Life

What if the ‘mystery’ of the woman is not related to her past traumas but is something more pleasant and silly and doesn’t drive everybody else to the edge? That would be See You In My 19th Life. Ji Eum is quirky, but in a way that you like and understand, not one that irritates you. Even Seo Ha is very enjoyable with his reactions to being pursued in such a way as he is. This is a very sweet drama and a welcome break after much of the angst of Doona. There are also so many past connections between the leads of this drama that you simply know that they are destined to be together, unlike Doona, which will have you questioning that once in a while.

7. A Time Called You

‘Mystery’ and ‘character complications’ seem to be the key things we are looking for when searching for things like Doona, that can be our next watch. A Time Called You has all of that, but the one thing that sets it apart from Doona is the characters’ determination to cross hell and high water to be with each other, but these obstacles are not within themselves but are manufactured by the world and their own fates. Ultimately, what comes in their way is the decisive choice between ‘right and wrong.’ Some parallels can be drawn between Doona and A Time Called You, in the way the lovebirds always find their way back to each other, and once they fall in love, it is permanent, and nothing can change for them at any cost. This drama caused quite a stir, and we would recommend checking it out.

8. Business Proposal

After Doona, if you want to watch a series that is simple, where people are in love without personal hurdles, and you don’t have to doubt whether they will have a happy ending or not, Business Proposal is right up that list. The male lead is rather iconic due to his dialogues and attitude, and not every brooding man has managed to do that. Do give it a watch on your off day.

Moving season 1 has ended, and we don’t know what to do with ourselves now since this was the first show in a long time that we watched as if our lives depended on it. Just the simple joy of watching a show that was so carefully written, with the heart and soul of the writers poured in, and which also included the audience in the story as much as it challenged them to think, is something we haven’t seen or felt in a long time. Moving Season 2 has not been announced yet, but it has to be on the cards, even though it is not going to happen anytime soon. How do we calm our restlessness until then? By watching the shows and movies on this list, which may serve to reasonably divert your thoughts until you get what you want.

1. Arthdal Chronicles

This one will keep you busy for a while. There is a lot of world-building and mountainous egos, along with elaborate strategies, in this one. Moving had the same things, but on a more subtle note, except that Arthdal Chronicles goes all out with it. Despite the lags at certain points, it is a series worth sitting through for the absolutely stunning visuals and its exploration of the politics of power, which just go to show that human nature is rather unchanging, no matter the technological or supposed psychological advancements. Since Season 2 of the show has different actors playing the protagonists, it may take a second to adjust and like the show, but it all comes together because, despite the changes, the cast remains spectacular. Another commonality between Moving and Arthdal Chronicles is their massive budget and the tag of being one of a kind. Whatever you may think of the shows, they are important landmarks in the Korean drama world.

2. Pandora 

Continuing with the world-building and the giant egos, Pandora is another show that has made a lot of people talk in recent times. It gets haphazard at times, but it is a novel attempt at doing something different, and frankly, we have a thing for stories where the world is not already established but is being built in front of us through the narrative. Pandora presents some interesting relationships between the characters, and at all times, the way they are presented and unraveled is a high-stakes treat. This is certainly an interesting watch.

3. Big Mouth 

If you are done with the first two on the list, Big Mouth is a natural successor. You need to watch it to understand why we said that. However, one thing we can assure you of is the absolutely beautiful relationship between Park Chan Ho and Ko Mi Ho, played respectively by Lee Jong Suk and Im Yoona, whose chemistry was impeccable. This is a good serve for the ones missing Bongseok and Huisoo, or even Mihyun and Doosik. They were the talking points of the whole show, and there is no one better than the leads of Big Mouth to distract you from them.

4. Rick and Morty

We are talking about complex world-building that pushes the limits of everything we know. Under the garb of profanity and madness, we find wisdom and possibilities for introspection, in addition to a lot of guilty laughs. Rick and Morty was a rage when it was released but has now become a niche interest. Either way, once you watch Rick and Morty, which also deals with elements of sci-fi, you will find something new to balance or perhaps add to your obsession with Moving. Going on a different tangent, has anyone wondered what a crossover between the worlds of Moving and Rick and Morty would look like? The crossover itself could be explored in multiple seasons and has the ability to change television forever. We don’t see this dream becoming reality, but we reserve the right to hope.

5.  Extraordinary

Talking about powers, we cannot ignore Extraordinary, and we suppose it could have been higher on the list. While talking about Moving, we mentioned how it was the story of the love between parents and children. Our intention was to say how unchanging relationships can be, even with extraordinary individuals. Extraordinary says the same thing, and it even goes on to show all the madness that muggles will entirely relate to. We are surprised that Extraordinary slipped under the radar the way it did, but then, most good shows are not really spoken about, and the average fare rules the roost.

6.  Vincenzo

Vincenzo does not have superpowers, but he might as well. That is how his character is shown, as a superhuman for whom no obstacle is too big or tough that he cannot cross it. Also, after the subtlety of Moving, the glorification of Vincenzo can be a nice change. It is all quite macho and superlative, but loads of fun and an absolute treat for Song Joong Ki fans. The actor has been making too many safe bets, and though we miss his more experimental roles, we don’t hold his choices against him and would watch everything because if nothing else, they guarantee a good time.

7. The Walking Dead

It’s another show on this list that will take a lot of your time but will be totally worth it. A personal tip from us would be to just watch the first four or five seasons. The rest depends on your level of interest. Zombies, heroes, villains, organizations with questionable morals, and villains who don’t stop wanting to watch the world burn even though it has gone to hell—this series has it all. This show was such a huge part of pop culture at one time, and if seen from the right perspective, you would realize that it still has a lot of that appeal. Therefore, we recommend that you give this a chance if you haven’t already.

8. Hellbound

Once again, the idea is to present you with shows that make you think and pull you into themselves. Just like Moving left you questioning whether the real threats were the people with powers or those using them, Hellbound will make you wonder whether the evil resides in the beasts from another world out to kill us or our fellow humans who don’t stop pushing their own agendas no matter the situation. It is a short and riveting series, and since another season is on the cards, this should be caught up with.

Jaane Jaan has created quite the stir online because of what people are calling a confusing storyline. But we would like to clarify that those who have read the book know that it is just a matter of terrible text-to-screen translation. First of all, we would strongly recommend that everyone read the book The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashimo. Secondly, once they finally understand why it is such a brilliant story, they can check out this list for movies better than Jaane Jaan.

1. The Devotion of Suspect X

Frankly, depending on your convenience and taste, we would say that you can watch any of the remakes of this film because it cannot be denied that Jaane Jaan botched up the details that were crucial to the understanding of the character’s motivations. You can check out Kolaigaran (Tamil, 2019), The Devotion of Suspect X (Chinese, 2017), Perfect Number (Korean, 2012), or Suspect X (Japanese, 2008). We are quite sure that they have all done a better job than Jaane Jaan. A stellar star cast and a better budget are supposed to elevate things and not downgrade them, but Bollywood has a history of missing the brief, so we will take our expectations and standards elsewhere. The novel by Keigo Higashimo deserves a far better execution than what Jaane Jaan delivered, and we would recommend that you give a chance to any one of these other movies.

2. Drishyam

There is an uncanny similarity between these two movies, and that makes this all the more intriguing. This movie also has multiple remakes across the states in India and in other countries as well. This is the power of good writing and proper execution, which Jaane Jaan so terribly missed. We have seen the Indian versions of the film, and we can vouch for the tight writing and the stellar acting. It is a balm on our hearts that burned due to the lack of explanation of the details in the movie that made The Devotion of Suspect X so good to begin with. We don’t think too highly of the sequel to Drishyam, but the first part is unmissable.

3. Talaash

All the promotional blurbs got it wrong when they said that Kareena Kapoor played a ‘mysterious woman’ in Jaane Jaan. We know everything about her right off the bat, so there is absolutely no element of mystery, but the same cannot be said for Talaash. There is a reason we often say that there is no one quite like Kareena Kapoor, and Talaash is proof of that. Till the very end, you don’t realize what is going on, and trust us when we say that the ending is genuinely shocking. It all even makes sense when you look at it with a bird’s-eye view. If memory serves right, Talaash was not as appreciated as it should have been when it was released, but it has certainly aged well; therefore, do give this a watch if you haven’t already.

4. Haseen Dillruba

It would not be completely right to call this movie a mystery, but it keeps you on the edge of your seat. If we were to talk about devotion, Rishu matches Ishinagi (Naren) any day, and in fact, he is the show stealer in the entire film. The love story is represented as a journey, and the supposed ‘mysterious’ woman is shown with all of her flaws, making her so human and so much easier to love and understand. This movie was a moment, and it is just sad that it is not talked about or discussed more. When it was released, it was the wrong moments that got attention, and now it seems to have gone under the radar. While Haseen Dillruba is not a better story than The Devotion of Suspect X, it is a better movie than Jaane Jaan, and you should watch it if you haven’t already.

5. Raat Akeli Hai

It is while compiling this list that we have realized how many gems Indian cinema has produced in recent years. It would be unfair to call them unsuccessful, but they have certainly not gotten the kind of enduring credit that they deserve. Raat Akeli Hai was a layered story brought to life by sensitive actors and addressed some of the harsher secrets of society the way it should have. There is a love story woven into this movie, and while it doesn’t take center stage, it is still a huge motivating factor, and it also helps that the actors have actual chemistry between them. On that note, did anyone else feel like they would have liked to see some romantic chemistry between Kareena Kapoor and Jaideep Ahlawat in Jaane Jaan? It was present between her and Vijay Varma, but the film may have been a bit more effective if we had seen that with Jaideep Ahlawat as well.

6. Chor Nikal Ke Bhaaga

Honestly speaking, we don’t remember why we approached Chor Nikal Ke Bhaaga with a bias, but it was alright. However, instead of ‘true love,’ this film deals with love gone wrong. It is somewhat predictable, but engaging enough. But the cast was the show stealer. Sunny Kaushal had us convinced of his helplessness or treachery, and Yami Gautam was a surprise like no other. We hold it against the film that it did not give Sharad Kelkar more time on the screen, but the story remained the hero. Also, the soundtrack is beautiful to listen to if you are feeling annoyed by the autotuned Jaane Jaan.

7. Badla

If you don’t like knowing what is happening until the very end, then Badla is for you. We would say that you should watch it for the cast itself. We were not expecting to like the pairing of Taapsee Pannu and Amitabh Bachchan so much, but that is what happens when you bring two effortless actors together. On a different note, this film does not have a love story, at least not in the way you would think, going by the list. It is also a remake of The Invisible Guest, which is a Spanish film, and we suppose the point of watching this is not just the story but the knowledge of what a remake should look like. There is a reason Jaane Jaan was a bad adaptation or remake, but Badla wasn’t, and that makes it worth a watch.

Wilderness is a six-episode series about some very intricate emotions surrounding the woman who was cheated on by her husband. While it is intensely engaging, it takes time to understand why Liv, Will, and Cara acted the way they did. There are layers to this drama, with the extramarital affair and the murder or accident that follows, which all tie together with the protagonist’s childhood trauma. It can be taken as the story of the complexity of the affair, but mostly, it is a look at the social imbalances in society regarding gendered roles that enable situations like this. Despite the subject, Wilderness keeps a cleverly subtle hand with the execution. The list we have compiled here addresses different facets of the narrative, and you can pick and choose which one you would like to see next and for which quality.

1. Kevin can f**k himself

Kevin is another husband, like Will, who loves to take his wife for granted while she strives to provide the best in the world for him. Not to give away spoilers, but this series proves that one doesn’t need to have an affair for a wife to want to get rid of her husband. Unlike Will, Kevin is pretty unambitious and can’t even clean up after himself. No one would say that he is a great catch, but somehow, the blame for the unhappiness of the marriage is still his wife’s burden to carry. It is interesting to see how, no matter what the man may be like, the woman is expected to be the same: perfect and happy with a tolerant smile that accommodates everyone. Annie Murphy, in the role of Allison McRoberts, is a delight, and we are beginning to think that we don’t get to see her as much as she deserves.

2. The Power

This show certainly requires a lot of finesse, but it introduces a very important question for everyone to consider: what if women were the stronger gender? Would men accept them asserting themselves, the way they expect women to accept men since they have more muscle? Or would they finally understand what women have been saying all along? When watching Wilderness, one of the things that feels especially infuriating is how Will demanded sacrifices from Liv and then took them for granted or said that she never had to do it because he didn’t ‘verbally’ ask for it. He was able to get away with that gaslighting because of the existing social structures that favored him, to begin with. What would he have done in the world of The Power? That makes this a show to watch.

3. The Handmaid’s Tale

This is a story that lets you know what would happen if patriarchy actually won. It shows just how far men’s entitlement can go and why feminists cannot afford to get tired and give up because once they do, we enter the Dark Ages from which there is no coming out. Spanning five seasons, there is something about the story that just doesn’t let go of you. It is a feminist show because it shows the true extent of the desire of men to have the world centered around them. If you remember how Will in Wilderness treated Liv and Cara and why he wanted to have a baby with his wife, the narrative of The Handmaid’s Tale will seem all the more horrific to you because it is people like Will, and worse, getting a legal sanction to be their unabashed selfish selves. This is a mandatory show to watch, and we would also recommend reading the book it is based on by Margaret Atwood.

4. The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart

Another limited series about how men’s cruelty operates on women and ends up pushing them over the edge, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, is a story of how that trauma can last through generations. In the interest of honesty, we need to point out that the series is irregularly paced. But if you don’t mind that, then this is a story that should be known. Also, it is a good idea to read the book it is based on, by Holly Ringland. In the series, Sigourney Weaver as June Hart is the show-stealer, and in fact, it is the study of her character, June Hart, that gives you all the lessons. There are parts of the show that are difficult to sit through, but they also tell you why women’s wrongs are so different from those of men, which makes this a compulsory watch.

5. The Wheel of Time

This fantasy series looks odd on this list, but the reason we have recommended it is because of one of the central characters, Moiraine. While the story is about a man, Rand, and his fight against the Dark One, another man, it is she who runs the show throughout. Played by the always-perfect Rosamund Pike, you can see why this show would be lost without her. While the first season is barely average, it is the second season that has you hooked. The production value has gone up, the plots are better, and the actors are bringing in a lot more than they did before. This should be on your list, if only for its pop culture value.

6. Sister Act

We all know that there is something very healing about sisterhood. When Cara and Liv in Wilderness are able to look past each other’s relationship to a man, they find a friend in the other person. This actually took the sting out of the situation for them. While Cara stopped seeing Liv as someone she didn’t care about whether she hurt or not, Liv saw that Cara was just as human and flawed as anybody else. Similarly, in Sister Act, Deloris Wilson is a complete fish out of water in her new surroundings, but she is still accepted and loved eventually because of the basic kindness, decency, and healing empathy that are so unique to women. It absolutely helps that this movie is a laugh riot and so watchable even after three decades of its release. This film, along with its sequels, should not be ignored by anyone.

Adventure, sports, and friendship set against beautiful beaches were what made us love Surviving Summer so much. Season 3 of the show hasn’t been announced yet, and we doubt there will be one, but that doesn’t stop us from wanting more of Summer’s journey with her friends and the sea. Therefore, we have compiled a list of shows and movies that we can watch to fill the void until we have more news about the future of Surviving Summer. 

1. Outer Banks

Another show set on the beaches with plenty of adventure to go around, Outer Banks makes for a great watch. It may get slightly tiring towards the end, but that is negligible when compared to the rest of the show. We see some wonderful character development in the people, and though it gets a little too soapy with a few of them, overall, the friendship of the group is what makes the story stand out. The love story at the center of the show has you invested in it, and the treasure hunt, though not as Dan Brown-esque as we would have liked it to be, is still quite thrilling and packed with action. This is a great show for this genre.

2. The Summer I Turned Pretty

We are not just citing this show because of its similarity in name to Surviving Summer. We are citing this because of the feelings and the adventure and the way these two mixed up in the protagonists’ lives. You still get your pretty beaches and people having fun, but this show is all about the love between three people and the way they let their relationships unfold over time. Despite the difference in pace between both shows, it is quite gripping in its own way, and by the end of it, you would be left with some serious love or hate for the characters and very strong opinions on who should be with whom. It also helps that this is one of the most-watched shows of the year, and to give a slight spoiler, the good guy wins in the end.

3. Spy x Family

At first glance, this anime might feel out of place on this list of recommendations. But remember that we are talking about friendship and adventure, and this anime fits right in when it comes to that, not to mention the unintentional teamwork of the characters, which is a sight for sore eyes that have craved good storytelling for a while now. Whether you have watched Spy x Family or not, we have all heard of Anya, and her pink hair with accessories shaped like horns are pretty much iconic. When the show was airing, it was all anyone could talk about, and that was for good reason. While it is definitely a lighthearted show with none of the tensions of Surviving Summer, it would be wrong to say that it wasn’t thrilling. And the visuals and the comedy make up for the rest, so this anime is not to be missed.

4. True Spirit

This movie, based on the real-life Jessica Watson, is purely about adventure and the absolute highs and lows that come with it. A 16-year-old girl sets out to travel the seas all by herself, and while she has her detractors, they all eventually end up rooting for her. Even when they want her to stop, it is out of concern and not derision, and this story is a testament to how much one’s grit and determination can change the world. Fair warning: this movie has its dull moments, but it is worth sticking through till the end because adventure doesn’t feel like adventure all the time. It has its difficult, monotonous, and demotivating moments, and all of them must be taken together for that one grand trip.

5. Against the Ropes

This is a series where some of the action comes back. There is some family drama, a matter of secret identity, lots of wrestling, and friends supporting each other through all their tough times. When you start watching this series, you don’t expect to get emotional. In fact, the villains and heroes are very clearly defined at the beginning. But as the show progresses, you realize that it is slightly more complicated than that. Of course, the position of the characters doesn’t change, but you find yourself sympathizing with them, which was the case in Surviving Summer seasons 1 and 2, even though it was only for a few seconds.

6. Dream

Here is a movie that once again places the sport at the center of things. Unlike Surviving Summer, none of the characters in Dream are good at their game, and neither do they love it. But the sportsmanship that made Surviving Summer so unique is pointedly present in the film, and that makes it quite the watch. You will also enjoy IU and Park Seo Joon’s camaraderie and easy storytelling. There is something about Park Seo Joon playing a ‘simple’ person in complicated situations that just makes us laugh immediately. All of the characters learn how to stand together for a common purpose, and their adventure lies in how they overcome their limitations to get what they want. It is one of the most popular movies on the platform and should definitely be watched.

7. The Uncanny Counter

A group of misfits who run a noodle shop by day and fight evil spirits by night, evening, or any time they spot one makes for a great show. The Uncanny Counter seasons 1 and 2 are high on laughs, and the characters are so endearing that they stay with you a long time after they leave the screen. The adventure, especially that of season 1, is rather on point, and you can expect to be running high on emotions if you binge-watch this show. Surviving Summer still had a subtle hand with the sentiments, but this Korean show goes all out with them. Luckily, it all looks too good, with the action, visual effects, and scenes from the afterlife, so you will like it. To point out a personal preference, we love the villain from Season 2 far more than the one from Season 1.