10 War Doramas on Netflix and Viki Everyone Needs to Watch

Doramas are best known for depicting inspiring and fascinating love stories, but Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean films and TV series set during the war deserve no less attention.

1. D. P., 2021-2023

Where to Watch: Netflix

A young man, Ahn Jun-ho, is drafted into the army, where he experiences a lot of cruelty. But this does not stop him from being a thoughtful and principled soldier. Therefore, Ahn is soon transferred to a military police unit and is assigned to arrest deserters.

There are many scenes where the characters are bullied by their superiors. Moreover, many of the perpetrators themselves were subjected to violence as children. And the reaction to such incidents is shown in a frighteningly accurate way. Heartless superiors do not condemn violence, and the rest remain completely silent about the humiliation for fear that it will affect their careers.

2. Military Prosecutor Doberman, 2022

Where to Watch: Viki

This crime war drama follows the work of military prosecutor Do Bae-man. He decides to expose the corruption network of the South Korean army, but he never imagined where his investigation would lead.

This is a classic Korean drama series with detective elements. Like most dramas, it consists of one season of 16 episodes, which is enough to introduce all the characters and unravel the complex web of corruption.

3. Kingdom 2: Far and Away, 2022

Where to Watch: Netflix

Several separate states in China have been at war with each other for 500 years. In the state of Qin, an assassination attempt is made on the ruler in his own palace, who is saved by the commoner Xin, who dreams of becoming a great general.

The ruler of Qin has many enemies who long for his death, but to add to his troubles, news arrives that troops from the state of Wei are invading Qin. Along with other warriors, Xin goes to war. He has the chance to find out what real battle is, and come closer to his dream, or die.

4. Descendants of the Sun, 2016

Where to Watch: Viki

UN peacekeeper Yoo Si-jin and doctor Kang Mo-yeon are sent to a fictional country in the midst of a civil war. Together they will survive an earthquake, a long separation, and even an attack by criminals.

Descendants of the Sun is a charming romantic story with the main idea dedicated to humanism. For the main characters, the most important thing in life is to protect or save another person, even if it means sacrificing themselves.

5. Double World, 2020

Where to Watch: Netflix

Double World, based on the online game of the same name, tells the story of an ordinary villager, Dong Yilong, who decides to participate in a large-scale competition that not even every experienced warrior can complete. Dangerous traps, ferocious monsters and cruel rivals await him.

Unfortunately, the movie was one of the many victims of the coronavirus pandemic. When it became clear that Chinese theatrical distribution was unlikely to revive to the same extent in 2020, the creators decided to premiere the film online – both in the East (on iQiyi) and in the West (on Netflix).

6. The Young Warriors, 2006

Where to Watch: Viki

The military TV show was released in China in 2006 and consists of 43 episodes, each 45 minutes long. The plot tells the life story of one of the greatest military leaders of the Song Dynasty – Yang. He has seven grown sons, all of whom faithfully serve their ruler and people, protecting the country's borders from enemy attacks.

The emperor does not hesitate to express his gratitude to the soldiers in the presence of all the ministers. However, the greedy and jealous ministers hate Yang and his sons and are willing to do anything to wipe them off the face of the earth.

7. Decoded, 2016

Where to Watch: Viki

The story takes place in China in the mid-1950s during the formation of a new communist state. Chinese intelligence is confronted with a highly complex code used by the enemy. So complex that none of their cryptographers could break it. Mission after mission fails and people are dying. All because the telegrams cannot be deciphered.

Scouts are sent to all corners of the country in search of young people who are exceptionally gifted in mathematics. At one of the universities, Colonel Zheng finally meets someone who is able to help them. This is a young man, Rong Jinzhen, who has three favorite things in life: counting ants, eating dumplings, and solving math problems.

8. Nirvana in Fire, 2015

Where to Watch: Viki

The commander of the Great Liang Army is accused of treason and his entire family is sentenced to death. Only 19-year-old Lin Shu manages to survive. For 12 years he hides and becomes a scientist. When a power struggle between the emperor's sons breaks out in the capital, the fugitive returns to the city under the name of Su Zhe to use the turmoil surrounding the throne for revenge.

This costume series is based on the web novel of the same name by Hai Yan and is not based on real historical events.

9. The Wind Blows from Longxi, 2022

Where to Watch: Viki

China, 3rd century AD. China was divided into three powerful kingdoms – Shu, Wei and Wu. The rulers of these states were constantly at odds with each other, trying to defend their sovereignty and weaken the power of their neighbors.

After the death of the founder of the Shu Kingdom, First Minister Zhuge Liang led a campaign against Wei. The bloody campaign ended in defeat. Trying to understand the reasons, the experienced minister begins to suspect the spy, who has been gathering information in Wei for many years.

10. Secret of the Three Kingdoms, 2018

Where to Watch: Viki

This historical war drama tells the story of Liu Ping, who grew up in a simple, ordinary family and knew nothing of the secret of his birth. It turns out that he has imperial blood in his veins and has a twin brother, the reigning emperor.

After Liu Ping was born, the ministers wanted to kill him because he was born of a concubine, but he was saved by the Empress Dowager, his grandmother. Now Liu Ping has grown up and the head of the Emperor's Guard came for him and convinced to return to the palace and take the place of his deceased twin brother.