One of the best things about investigation K-dramas is the thrill and anticipation of
a plot twist.
It can be the reveal of the villain, a shocking clue, or someone’s real identity.
However, plot twists aren't limited to investigation alone, and we can actually find it in a great
deal of other genres.
Today, let’s discuss some non-investigation series with the most jaw-dropping plot twist.
It’s Okay, That’s Love Despite being released a very long time ago,
the 2014 K-drama “It’s Okay, That’s Love” still holds a special place in my
heart.
The series follows the mystery writer Jang Jae Yeol, who also hosts a radio show on the
side.
Playful and arrogant, Jae Yeol actually has a tragic past and develops OCD over it, prompting
him to run into the female lead Ji Hae Soo.
Of course, they fall in love, but this isn’t just a series about romance.
It is also about self-healing, trauma, murder mystery, and brings the best supporting cast,
including the character Han Kang Woo, played by the idol-actor D.O.
Now, D.O is introduced as a student and big fan of Jae Yeol, who aspires to be a famous
author just like his idol.
He bugs Jae Yeol to read his manuscripts, follows him around, and has the best interactions
with our male lead.
He was also one of the most complex characters, and his arc can move even the hardest heart.
So, imagine the surprise when the fandom-favorite Kang Woo turns out to be Jae Yeol’s imagination
all along!
Turns out, Jae Yeol started to see Kang Woo out of trauma, and that’s why their pasts
were so similar.
Suddenly, everything in the series makes more sense, and details in Kang Woo scenes reveal
that he has never been there.
So, while I am not a fan of the “everything is imagination” trope, I have to say, “It’s
Okay, That’s Love” did it beautifully.
It managed to avoid the endless streams of flashbacks, and used Kang Woo to tell of Jae
Yeol’s true feelings, past, and fears.
They cleverly inserted hints for the twist, and also neatly tied up all ends, while still
accurately portraying mental illness.
Thirty Nine Ok, technically, this isn’t a plot twist,
since it happened at the end of episode 2.
But considering the whiplash I felt when it happened, I think “Thirty Nine” totally
fits into this list.
In fact, I still remember vividly the time I read about the series’ synopsis, which
promised a healing story surrounding a trio of friends at age 39.
Its poster was also all warm and bright with the main cast all smiling, and there were
even bubbles floating around as if it’s a modern day fairy.
Later, we had a poster of the three main couples, and this time I became even more convinced
that “Thirty Nine” was going to make me smile.
They were sitting on a bench together, all smiling, touching, happy, giving the vibes
of rom-com series like “Because This is My First Life”, “Be Melodramatic”, or
even “Search: WWW”.
Unfortunately, all the smiling didn’t happen, and it was revealed in episode 2 that Jeon
Mi Do’s character, aka a piece of the main trio, was dead from cancer.
It didn’t help that the rest of the series were also just as depressing, and we have
a lost career, struggling people searching for their place in the world, break ups, cheating,
asshole birth families, a car accident, and also something most of us can relate with:
being left out of a three-way friendship.
There was no episode where characters didn’t cry and where I didn’t cry, so the series
vs those posters is the biggest Kdrama plot twist of all time.
Ok, in all seriousness though, “Thirty Nine” was well-acted and very beautiful.
I loved Chan Young and Mi Jo’s journey, and the series was both soothing and inspirational
to those that still struggle to find their own place.
Still, just for precaution, prepare a lot of tissues and a glass of water.
You are going to need the latter after cursing out some of the characters!
Reply 1988 Ok, so depending on the person, “Reply 1988”
may have either one or two plot twists.
For most people, the plot twist came in the form of the final pairing, when Choi Taek
was revealed to be Duk Sun’s future husband.
This had greatly disappointed fans of the second male lead Jung Hwan, especially after
he had totally charmed the hearts of people with his gallant gestures, silent understanding,
and caring nature.
However, this….wasn’t really that surprising to me, since I could tell that Jung Hwan was
losing since way early on.
He was a bit too reserved with displays of affection, and so missed out on too many opportunities
to get the girl of his dreams.
Instead, what actually made my jaw drop in shock was when Duk Sun’s friend Sun Woo
was revealed to be holding feelings for Duk Sun’s older sister.
Honestly, the show totally fooled me into thinking that he was into Duk Sun, and it
didn’t help that K-dramas are so heavy on the friends to lovers trope that I kept expecting
a love triangle, or well, love rectangle, to happen.
In addition, Duk Sun was also an unreliable narrator who believed that Sun Woo liked her,
and there were so many clues, making it even more convincing to the watching audience.
All things considered though, both of the plot twists worked well.
I adored Jung Hwan with all my heart, but I completely understood why Choi Taek was
picked.
Also, Sun Woo crushing on Bo Ra instead of Duk Sun made the gang’s relationship less
complicated, added to the comedy, and provided us with a beautiful second lead couple.
So, yes, I was extremely shocked.
But I was also pleasantly surprised.
The Light In Your Eyes The plot twist in “The Light In Your Eyes”
is probably one of my favorite ones yet.
Not because it was unique or carefully intertwined into the story, but because it adds a beautiful
new layer of meaning into the plot.
For those who don't know, “The Light In Your Eyes” started with the female lead
Kim Hye Ja stumbling across an outstanding superpower: her watch allows her to manipulate
time.
However, time manipulation comes with a heavy price, and every time Hye Ja turns back time
to remedy the past, she will age in the present.
There is also a tender loveline amid this fantasy-filled story, as Hye Ja gets involved
with the wannabe reporter Lee Joon Ha, played by famous actor Nam Joo Hyuk.
This is a beautiful K-drama about humanity that is both sorrowful and impactful.
It gives an insight into how the older generation was treated by the young, and is an eye-opening
yet still relatable work.
But mundane events and everyday struggles aside, the ending of episode 10 hit me like
a stack of bricks.
All of a sudden, our female lead Hye Ja, who was on a cliff watching the sunset, woke up
in a hospital bed.
Her son and daughter-in-law rushed to her side, signaling that this is reality.
It turns out that Hye Ja is an actually old person with Alzheimer’s disease, and that
everything we have been seeing is not the present, but a decades-old past.
Young Soo is not Hye Ja’s older brother but her son, and Joon Ha is actually her late
husband.
The watch, which Hye Ja believed to have time-traveling powers, is just a simple watch that her husband
left behind and was stolen by the police officer she always suspected.
Again, I’m not a fan of the “everything is an imagination” trope, but I have to
give a standing ovation to “The Light in Our Eyes”.
It was just such a clever way of presenting the stories of an elderly woman without boring
a regular watcher, and the series’ rating, which tripled over time, really shows how
good this K-drama was.
Now, if you haven’t tried the series, please consider picking it up.
Even with the knowledge of the plot twist, it will be a beautiful tale that slowly worms
its way into your heart.
Before we leave, I’d like to discuss some honorable mentions, including:
It’s Okay To Not Be Okay: The mother is the head nurse
Tale of Nokdu: The seemingly kind second male lead is a psychopathic evil guy
Heartless City: There are no bad guys in the gang?
Chicago Typewriter: Jin Oh is a ghost writer… literally.
And that’s it for now!
If you want to see shocking plot twists in investigation dramas, check out our old videos
on the most unexpected K-drama villains.
Now, what are your thoughts about the plot twists we have discussed.
Did you see them coming?
Comment down below to let us know your opinions.