Premiere Watch: The Killer's Shopping List, Monstrous

24 April 27, 2022April 27, 2022

Premiere Watch: The Killer’s Shopping List, Monstrous

by missvictrix

This week’s premieres take a thrilling and bloody turn, one in a comedic direction, and the other quite a bit more literal. Both shows are a genre change from all the slice-of-life and melancholy we’ve got going right now, so who’s ready?

The Killer’s Shopping List

Time slot: Wednesday-Thursday
Broadcaster: tvN
Genre: Thriller, mystery, comedy
Episode count: 8

Reasons to watch: Lee Kwang-soo back in dramaland in a role that seems written for him!? That’s all the reasons to watch right there. The Killer’s Shopping List lays out a great premise: a left behind shopping receipt at a local mart is the only clue to solve a crime, and it’s the job of our underdog hero to figure it all out. Well, with the help of his mother (Jin Hee-kyung), and police officer girlfriend (Seolhyun). If the drama can keep the quirky aesthetics and humor of their promos, this could be a great little eight-episode drama.

Monstrous

Time slot: Fridays
Broadcaster: TVING
Genre: Mystery, horror, thriller, supernatural
Episode count: 6

Reasons to watch: TVING has a new premiere and they continue to lean into the dark and bloody. Monstrous boasts a great cast, but a super scary premise. If you’re a fan of: Gu Kyo-hwan, Shin Hyun-bin, Kwak Dong-yeon, Nam Da-reum, etc., you will likely be excited to see them here… but are you also game for a story about creepy supernatural happenings, ancient signs and symbols, evil spirits, and more? It’s a hard pass for me, even with Go Kyo-hwan reeling me in.

Required fields are marked *

1 Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)

April 27, 2022 at 10:52 AM

Hmmmm... I start by looking up the writers and PDs and neither show seems all that promising, with perhaps a slight edge for Monstrous (??), but I really don't need need another Friday show.
I'll probably start both anyway, but...

Required fields are marked *

2 ladynightshade wants to be gazed at by namgoong min

April 27, 2022 at 11:14 AM

I’m extremely psyched for Monstrous, but I feel like my body will physically stop working if I watch more dramas around the weekend time-slot.

Required fields are marked *

ladynightshade wants to be gazed at by namgoong min

April 27, 2022 at 11:17 AM

Wait, but it’s a TVING drama so subs might be hard to come by for the first few weeks. Maybe I can have my respite. Thank god for that.

But seriously, why does TVING not have an english subs option? They really should get that moving if they wish to expand and have an international audience.

Required fields are marked *

mindy

April 27, 2022 at 11:33 AM

OnDemandKorea gets some of their titles (Work Later Drink Now, Dr. Park’s Clinic) but I also don’t understand why they and wavve don’t sell more of their shows to international services, especially when they have well-known casts. Seems like a waste.

Required fields are marked *

miss h

April 27, 2022 at 1:28 PM

I think it's the genres more than anything. It doesn't seem like the darker genres are as popular internationally as romances or comedies. The streaming services may not want to shell out for them if they know they won't get a big audience.

I did see that Viki has Political Fever (aka Going to the Blue House Like This) up in the Coming Soon section, which was the Wavve drama that was so critically acclaimed in SK. So there's hope some may be licensed at some point.

Required fields are marked *

mindy

April 27, 2022 at 1:33 PM

Ohhhh I didn’t realize that!! I have been moaning about no one picking up Going to the Blue House Like This since the moment it started airing because I love me some political satire. Can’t wait to watch it finally!

The broadcast and major cable networks still get nearly ever drama of theirs subbed regardless of genre, but I get that they probably have more money than the newer streaming platforms.

ladynightshade wants to be gazed at by namgoong min

April 27, 2022 at 1:49 PM

Going to the Blue House Like This will be subbed?!?? FINALLY.

As for the genre, that still seems to be something exclusive to TVING and wavve. Public and cable channels tend to get their shows subbed either instantly, if popular, or immediately after it ends, for the more genre fare. As @mindy states, it’s probably a money thing, but I can’t imagine these dramas not doing well. Not Business Proposal perhaps, but there would be a loyal audience.

3 panshel

April 27, 2022 at 11:22 AM

I can't watch another weekend drama. I can barely watch another Wednesday-Thursday drama because I'm already watching the weekend dramas on weekdays.

Required fields are marked *

4 Kurama

April 27, 2022 at 11:38 AM

Kwak Dong-yeon, why?!? I want to see him in new drama but the story of this one doesn't interested me, it looks very dark. I guess I will have to wait for Big Mouth, another drama where he's only a supporting role...

The Killer's Shopping List looks fun and it's a short drama. I will test this one.

Required fields are marked *

ShilohRain

April 28, 2022 at 5:41 AM

I'm in the same boat as you. He's one of my absolute faves, but normally I wouldn't touch this genre. I like sleeping through the night, thanks.

But I might have to try it. Or at least flip through it and see if I can stomach the scenes he's in.

Required fields are marked *

Kurama

April 28, 2022 at 6:14 AM

There is a scene with Kwak Dong-yeon and Nam Da-reum on the same bike! A great combo of actors!

Required fields are marked *

5 miss h

April 27, 2022 at 1:29 PM

Definitely going to try The Killer's Shopping List.

Required fields are marked *

6 pohonphee

April 27, 2022 at 4:55 PM

Why are you all trying to watch all weekend dramas on weekend? What the use of streaming sites when we have to watch all dramas at the same time, it is not TV program. I know the fun of commenting on dramas together around the same time, but watching dramas should not be like a task with deadline. 😁 do we all have enough deadline IRL?

Required fields are marked *

mindy

April 27, 2022 at 5:12 PM

For me, I spend a lot of time here and other kdrama places, and I also follow several kdrama accounts on IG, and if something is spoiled for me it reduces my enjoyment substantially.

Required fields are marked *

ladynightshade wants to be gazed at by namgoong min

April 27, 2022 at 5:17 PM

For me, it’s more that I’m extremely busy on weekdays and so have to fit in most of my drama-watching within the weekend. I try my best to spread it out, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out. That, and the whole don’t-want-to-be-spoiled thing (although i admit to not caring as much about that as others might).

Required fields are marked *

pohonphee

April 27, 2022 at 5:26 PM

@mindy @ladynightshade
I don't mind being spoiled, what matter is the process not the ending 😀 so I don't face the same problems as you all. Lucky for me I guess

Required fields are marked *

💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜

April 27, 2022 at 6:21 PM

I end up having to prioritise them, and I do, but it's still a lot to get through, especially if one IS watching shows that also air throughout the week.

Required fields are marked *

Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)

April 27, 2022 at 7:02 PM

What We're Watching is my deadline.

Required fields are marked *

loveblossom🌸

April 28, 2022 at 10:29 AM

Haha, I like to watch my dramas in order of the recap releases here. XD

Required fields are marked *

7 bong-soo

April 27, 2022 at 5:29 PM

Of the two dramas I will be watching THE KILLER’S SHOPPING LIST which thankfully will be available on VIki US.

O/T. I would like to be able to watch TVING’s upcoming mystery ROSE MANSION with Yoon Kyun-sang however there has no word on if that will be available in the US subbed.

Required fields are marked *

8 💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜

April 27, 2022 at 6:17 PM

I was going to start Monstrous and I THINK I was going to start Shopping List as well, but I am already watching 5 weekend dramas (10 episodes a weekend) and one Thurs/Fri Drama (not to mention two other shows), AND, more importantly, I am AWAY for two whole weekends, starting tomorrow (my Friday) meaning I will have a maximum of 24 episodes, an entire shows worth of catch up to do when I get back, if I don't get to any during that holiday. Which is insane, and also incredibly daunting, so I think I'll just see where I'm at when I *do* get back and see what I feel up to lmao.
Fortunately Monstrous is only 6 episodes, so it will be an easy binge at least.

Required fields are marked *

bong-soo

April 28, 2022 at 7:18 AM

Enjoy your trip Sic. I feel for you and know what it is to have to catch up. I just had a house guest for almost a week and then took of for 3 days (mini vacation) and return home on Friday so I have a bunch of episodes of the 4 dramas I am watching and the 2 (SHOWTIME, SHOPPING) that I plan on watching then there will be JCW’’s in MAGIC coming soon.
I am bummed out that I won’t be watching Jang Hyuk (and fan) in RED HEART because of lack of US availability but I have enough to keep me occupied.