Let's face it, average people with nothing to get hooked on rarely make compelling protagonists. A true lead has to stand out from the crowd, at least in some area of life. That's why stories about geniuses are usually so thrilling.Who is your perfect protagonist?An ordinary person50%An extraordinary person50% Shows about extraordinary people usually prove that no matter how intelligent or expert you are, no one is safe from making mistakes and being affected by emotions. The key is to never give up, even when life gives you lemons. And that is truly inspiring. Here are seven K-dramas with genius leads who fall, but get up and win anyway.Captivating the King (2024) IMDb rating: 7.7/10 Where to stream: Netflix, TVING The female lead of this Joseon-era story is a genius baduk player who becomes a spy and gets close to the king, only to discover how vulnerable, lonely, and charming he actually is. All her plans are disrupted when she falls in love.Start-Up (2020) IMDb rating: 8.0/10 Where to stream: Netflix, Prime Video The two male leads of this drama are geniuses, each in their own field. The main character is a math and coding genius and the founder of the large but struggling company in the fictional South Korean Silicon Valley. The secondary male lead is an investment genius. So the female lead has a hard time choosing between the two.Good Doctor (2013) IMDb rating: 8.0/10 Where to stream: Netflix, Viki, iQIYI, TVING This drama is the one that inspired the hit American series of the same name, starring Freddie Highmore. Like Highmore's protagonist, Park Si-on is an aspiring doctor with ASD, which makes his journey difficult but also helps him become a genius pediatrician.Weak Hero Class 1 (2022) IMDb rating: 8.5/10 Where to stream: Prime Video, Viki, Kocowa, Wavve, iQIYI Yeon Si-eun is an incredibly intelligent student who uses his brains and knowledge of physics, logic, and psychology to escape the cycle of violence at school. But when the bullying escalates, he has to seek help from two other bullied classmates.Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022) IMDb rating: 8.6/10 Where to stream: Netflix, TVING The story of Na Hee-do takes place in two timelines. In the past, she is an up-and-coming fencing prodigy. In the present, she has fallen down a slump, and is now working hard to rise up again. Her love interest is the son of a broke chaebol family, who is also trying to find a new path in life.Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022) IMDb rating: 8.6/10 Where to stream: Netflix Woo Young-woo is a unique and compelling protagonist. She is the first South Korean lawyer on the autism spectrum. She is also a savant with an extremely high IQ and a photographic memory, which helps her crack cases for her clients even though social interaction is difficult for her.Alchemy of Souls (2022-2023) IMDb rating: 8.8/10 Where to stream: Netflix The fantasy sageuk follows the journeys of an elite warrior and a young mage who was never allowed to learn martial arts and magic, but when he finally can, he proves to be a prodigy and quickly rises through the ranks.
