From dystopian romances to heartfelt family dramas and thrilling crime mysteries, 2024 delivered a rich array of unforgettable Asian stories that catered to any viewer’s taste. Most notably groundbreaking shows, such as this year’s Emmy winner, Shōgun, pushed the boundaries of genre and creativity, resonating with audiences and introducing a fresh new perspective. Whether you’re seeking a gripping action or heartwarming drama, we’re spoiled with this year’s lineup of API shows. Check out our ACT!ON team’s top television series picks from this past year!
This list only contains series that aired in its entirety from January through October.
Shōgun
Making history with a record number of 18 Emmy wins, this historical samurai drama is the first majority non-English language series to win the best drama category. Anna Sawai and Hiroyuki Sanada also walked home with Emmy wins, as the first Japanese actors to do so. As an ensemble cast, Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), a warlord of Kantō, and John Blackthrone (Cosmo Jarvis), an English ship pilot who washes up the Japanese shore, navigate the complex politics of Toranaga’s rivalries and alliances with the help of skilled translator and aristocrat Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai). Set in the 1600s, the societal power grab is intense and violent and thrilling to watch. — Allie Salvucci
A Shop for Killers
Based on author Kang Ji-young’s novel, The Killer’s Shopping Mall, A Shop for Killers is a thrilling action series that takes the weird-uncle trope to the next level. When Jeong Ji-an (Kim Hye-jun) gets a call that her last, living relative, uncle Jeong Jin-man (Lee Dong-wook), is dead from a likely suicide, Ji-an goes back to his house in the countryside to arrange his funeral.
Filled with grief in a house that’s now hers, she stumbles upon an old phone of his that speaks of a business transaction worth millions. Utterly confused as to how her uncle’s agricultural goods business could possibly make that much profit, Ji-an discovers her uncle’s hidden shop that hosted the transaction — an underground market designed for weaponry. Quickly becoming a target without her uncle’s protection, Ji-an is left to figure things out for herself. With a questionable shop and an even more questionable uncle, Ji-an must survive to figure out the truth — just what is up with her uncle? — Karen Yi
Light of My Lion
After losing his parents in a tragic accident, Hiroto Komori (Yuya Yagira) becomes the main caretaker of his younger brother Michito (Ryota Bando), who has autism. Day after day, they go through the same schedule being careful not to deviate, even for a second. Although he cares deeply for his brother, Hiroto shows discontent with their monotonous lifestyle — secretly hoping for a chance to break free. His unrevealed desire comes to pass after a little boy named Lion (Tasuku Sato), appears at their doorstep. With the whereabouts of his parents unknown, Hiroto decides to take Lion in and becomes hesitant to return him after discovering signs of potential child abuse on Lion. As the mystery surrounding Lion’s sudden appearance unravels, the Komori brothers must deal with present discomfort and past trauma. The TBS series, Light of My Lion, is now streaming internationally on Netflix. — Ebonie Mustipher
Ready, Set, Love
Ready, Set, Love is a chaotic, unique, romantic comedy series, starring Thai powerhouses Blue Pongtiwat Tangwancharoen and Kemisara Paladesh. Set in a dystopian world where there’s a huge disparity between the population of men versus women, men are raised on a “farm” and matched to women through a game show. Protagonist Day becomes a reluctant participant who only joins to help her sick sister after her name has been entered without her knowledge. Initially dismissive of the competition and unimpressed with any of the contestants, Day’s tune towards the game changes when she realizes that staying could help aid her sister’s medical expenses and much-needed care. The show offers a fresh, humorous take on reality TV and rom-com cliches in a high stakes, futuristic setting. — Heather Ngo
The Boyfriend
Netflix’s The Boyfriend broke ground as Japan’s first same-sex reality show, premiering in July 2024 and captivating audiences worldwide. Beyond introducing Japanese culture and TV to new audiences, the series sparked vital conversations about LGBTQIA+ representation, sexuality, and dating. It also offered a rare and refreshing portrayal of male friendships and male vulnerability as the housemates navigated their feelings together. As it introduced viewers to heartfelt, diverse stories, The Boyfriend became a global conversation starter, proving the power of inclusive and honest storytelling. — Davonna Gilpin
Joko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreams
If you enjoy The Twilight Zone, you will like this one. Joko Anwar teamed up with Netflix and introduced a genre that’s never been explored before in the Indonesian film industry. This series presents a supernatural, sci-fi, horror narrative, told through seven amazing, interconnected tales that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The impressive lineup of actors, Ario Bayu, Marissa Anita, Lukman Sardi, Asmara Abigail, and Nirina Zubir, add depth and nuance to the storytelling and performances. The series boasts impressive visuals and intricate world-building that truly showcases Joko Anwar’s vivid imagination and creative vision. For anyone seeking something fresh and exciting in Indonesian cinema, check out Joko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreams, streaming now on Netflix. — Carissa Alfiora
GG Precinct
In his last project before enlistment, Taiwanese actor Greg Hsu reprised his role as Wu Ming-han in the crime comedy spin-off series, GG Precinct. Following the illegal drug ring case solved in the supernatural comedy, Marry My Dead Body, the offbeat team of detectives at the Gia Gun Police Station must use their brain power to solve a bone-chilling word game.
Twenty years after the arrest of the famous language tutor Hsu Shui-yuan (Tony Yang, Tai Chih-yuan) — known as the Chinese Idiom Killer, a string of murders strangely sharing the same modus operandi begin to pile up. Unable to understand a pattern in the unusual case, the team tentatively recruits the help of Hsu Shui-yuan. As the story unfolds, the Gia Gun detectives have to decide if the original killer is being truthful — or if he’s an unreliable narrator. Other prominent members of the dynamic cast include Gingle Wang, Ma Nien-hsien, Lulu Huang, Ng Ki-pin, and Huang Hsuan (YELLOW 黄宣). — E.M.
Sunny
Set in the beautiful backdrop of Kyoto, Sunny does a masterful blend of a heartfelt drama, mystery and dark comedy. Rashida Jones, who plays as Suzie, delivers an exceptional performance: an American in Japan navigating the mysterious disappearance of her husband Masa (Hidetoshi Nishijima) and her child while forming an unexpected bond with Sunny (Joanna Sotomura), a three-foot tall domestic robot with personality. This captivating and emotionally resonant show is available for streaming on Apple TV. — C.A.
The Brothers Sun
Rising actor Sam Li stars as Bruce Sun, your everyday 20-something-year-old just trying to juggle what he aspires to do and to live up to his mother’s expectations portrayed by veteran actress Michelle Yeoh. Although born in Taiwan, Bruce has little-to-no memories of his homeland and has grown up with a typical western mindset. His seemingly boring life is upended when an older brother he’s never met, named Charles, played by newcomer Justin Chien, reveals that his family is an infamous Taipei mafia group headed by their recently deceased father. This action-packed series explores themes of family loyalty, identity, and the clash between an ordinary life and a criminal underworld. — H.N.
Culinary Class Wars
With food as its centerpiece, Netflix takes eateries to another level with Culinary Class Wars, where cooking is survival. Throwing 100 chefs into a battlefield of ingredients, contestants are continuously eliminated in various challenges to crown the last chef standing — donned in their aproned glory. Sweeping through South Korea with a fervor, the series has been confirmed for a second season, horizoned for release in 2025.
Divided into two classes — white spoons for veteran chefs and black spoons for upcoming chefs — the contestants are judged, studied, and eliminated based on their cooking prowess. With blind taste-testing rounds and random ingredient limitations, contestants are instantly put to the test in an environment that feeds on collective stress. For those deep inside Korea’s food industry, familiar faces are scattered throughout. Celebrity chef Paik Jong-won and Michelin star chef Anh Sung-jae appear as the show’s judges, with sharp tongues and an even sharper palette. — K.Y
Amidst A Snowstorm of Love
Leo Wu, best known for his main role in Love Like A Galaxy, and breakout actress from time travel-thriller drama Reset, Zhao Jinmai, portray world-class billiards players in a modern drama set in Helsinki, Finland. Wu plays Lin Yi Yang, a retired professional snooker, who meets the up-and-coming nine-ball player Yin Guo (Zhao Jinmai) on a chance encounter in the middle of a snowstorm. Lin Yi Yang falls for Yin Guo instantly in this slow-burn romance that showcases a performance of natural chemistry. Adapted from the novel, During The Snowstorm by Mo Bao Fei Bao, the story leans heavily into the nuances of growing up in the world of professional billiards and how their passion for the sport is easily entangled into their affection for each other. — A.S
My Name is Gabriel
Following the release of Netflix’s Agents of Mystery, the newest addition to the TEO universe has arrived. From June to October, viewers were transported to various parts of the world as they watched eight Korean celebrities live under a new identity for 72 hours. The concept for the reality series, My Name is Gabriel, begins with the question, “If you weren’t living as yourself, what kind of life would you live?” As the participants ponder the question, their responses are put through a specialty AI system that matches them to their ideal location.
Some of the unique identities showcased in the series include a manager at Pipa Yuan, the world’s largest hotpot restaurant in Chongqing, China, and a jimador who harvests agave in Tequila, Jalisco (located in Mexico). By exploring a life unlike their own, the celebrities gain a newfound perspective on the world — and themselves. The line-up for the series consisted of stars ranging from actors like Park Bo Gum and Ji Chang-wook to performers like BLACKPINK’s JENNIE and La Chica’s GABEE. All 14 episodes are now streaming on Hulu or Disney+, depending on your region. — E.M.
What Comes After Love
This heartfelt, cross-cultural romance series covers a love story spanning across several years between leads Choi Hong and Aoki Jungo, played by Korean actress Lee Seyoung and Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi, respectively. As a young woman, Hong runs away to Japan and unexpectedly falls for Jungo, sparking a heart-racing relationship filled with sweet firsts and tender moments. However, viewers are quickly thrown five years later, where Hong is now back in Seoul — single. Their reunion slowly reveals the reasons behind their inevitable break up. Over the course of six episodes, this drama masterfully blends emotional storytelling, gorgeous scenery, and poignant flashbacks, leaving viewers wondering whether this couple can overcome their past wounds and present obstacles. — H.N.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Donald Glover and Maya Erskine team up as they play two strangers who must become a married couple of secret agents for a mysterious organization. Unlike Doug Liman’s movie, this remake series is very understated, focusing more on the relationship drama than on flashy action scenes — though there are some! This decision works beautifully for the show, setting it apart from the movie and giving it a deeper, more unique feel. — C.A.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
Holly Jackson’s debut novel, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, comes to life on-screen in a six-episode series, starring Emma Myers, commonly known for her role in Netflix’s Emmy award-winning show, Wednesday. Myers stars as Pip, a curious high school student who digs up a cold case murder from five years ago as an investigative story for her senior capstone project. The whole town believes that popular Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend Sal Singh, but Pip isn’t so sure. She teams up with Sal’s younger brother, Ravi (Zain Iqbal) to prove Sal’s innocence. In this mystery-thriller, Pip unearths lots of dark secrets — some of which seem to unravel how people will do anything to keep their secrets from getting out. — A.S.
Angels Fall Sometimes
Angels Fall Sometimes is an emotional rollercoaster that goes far beyond the scope of romance, serving as a heartfelt reminder of how precious time is. When two college students, Lin Tuo (Lin Yi) and An Zhi Que (Landy Li), serendipitously meet at a summer recruiting event, the two immediately hit it off, quickly becoming friends thanks to Lin Tuo’s sweet personality.
With the pair akin to a match made in heaven, the budding relationship between the two naturally flows into love. But when Lin Tuo gets diagnosed with ALS, everything changes. Life is harder to look at with optimism. Breaking up with his social life before it breaks up with him, Lin Tuo tries to let go. But with an undefeated support system, he ventures on a difficult journey to wholeheartedly embrace the precious time he has left. An Zhi Que will make sure of it. — K.Y
Love In The Big City
Korean drama Love in the Big City has taken the world by storm with its heartfelt storytelling and bold exploration of modern dating, love, and identity. Adapted from Park Sang-young’s acclaimed novel, the series delves into the complexities of LGBTQIA+ relationships, friendship, and self-discovery in Seoul through the eyes of main character Go Young (Nam Yoonsu). Through its authentic, fleshed out, relatable characters and compelling narratives, the series not only introduces audiences to contemporary Korean culture but also sheds light on issues often left unspoken in mainstream Korean media.
The show’s nuanced portrayal of vulnerability and different types of love hits audiences right in the heart (and the tear ducts). Everyone who watches can find something within the show that resonates with them. Airing against growing voices of dissent, Love in the Big City has cemented itself as a groundbreaking drama and a powerful testament to the transformative impact of inclusive television — D.G.
Each of these series invite viewers into unique universes brimming with emotional depth. This new wave of API content is sure to offer a gateway into diverse stories and endless entertainment.
Want more Team ACT!ON recommendations? Check out our year end roundup og best films to watch in 2024 here!
