Netflix's K-Drama Fans Call 'More Believable' Replacement for Designated Survivor

Summary

• The USA's Designated Survivor ran from 2016 to 2019, telling the story of a man who finds himself thrust into the role of president during a disaster.
• South Korea released its own version, Designated Survivor: 60 Days, in 2019.
• Fans have left no doubt as to which series they find more believable.

Designated Survivor (2016-2019)

IMDB rating 7.4/10

Hollywood royalty and star of the popular drama 24 (2001-2014), Kiefer Sutherland headlines the cast of this powerful political thriller. He plays Tom Kirkman, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for the United States government. An impressive job, but still considered a relatively low-level cabinet position.

When a shocking bomb attack kills the US President and everyone else in line for the position, Kirkman is suddenly promoted to the top job. Now he must run the country and try to unravel the conspiracies and secrets that ultimately caused the horrific act of domestic terrorism that put him in the President's seat.

Kirkman is likable and someone the audience can easily relate to. A simple man thrown into an impossible situation and given a ton of responsibility, we all felt for him. But fans have pointed out that the storylines became too confusing, and ultimately described the final season as a waste of time.

It first aired on ABC, and after being canceled at the end of Season 2, Netflix picked it up for Season 3. At this point, many fans began to lose interest, feeling that they were now watching a completely different show from Season 1. Some fans have even gone so far as to say that elements of Season 3 made no sense at all, which hurt the show in terms of its realism.

Designated Survivor: 60 Days (2019)

IMDB rating 8.1/10

The South Korean version of the story is led by Ji Jin-hee in the lead role of Park Mu-jin, the South Korean Minister of Environment and chemistry professor. Ji is no stranger to quality K-dramas, having previously appeared in Dae Jang Geum, Spotlight, and Dong Yi.

The basic plot of 60 Days is similar: the president is killed in a building explosion, along with all the other potential successors, and Park is promoted to the seat.

But unlike the US version, it does not try to go as far by focusing on only one season. It favors attention to detail and focusing on the nuances of the characters and why they make the decisions they do, rather than a more overall big picture story. However, it never loses sight of the grand scheme surrounding the bombing, which keeps the story relevant, compelling, and exciting.

Fans and critics alike were initially skeptical that this show was a remake, but soon changed their minds when they learned the quality of the show they were dealing with. And even though the story wrapped up nicely at the end, fans still want another season to see more of this brilliant drama.

Why is the remake more realistic?

Both shows have the same basic plot, and both have likable leads played to perfection by talented actors. Both also have strong supporting characters and a healthy balance of suspenseful political tension and edge-of-your-seat action.

But fans almost unanimously agree that the South Korean version is more realistic for one key reason. The characters and the attention paid to them.

Fans love that more characters seem to be included, while still covering the main plot points, and feel that we get to know them better. This helps make the story feel more real because knowing more about the characters means that their decisions make more sense. The audience can get behind what everyone is doing because they understand why, and this creates a more believable show overall.