Joseon X-Files - Secret Book

Set in the Joseon dynasty (1609 A.D. to be exact), this series blends historical drama with the investigation of unexplained phenomena by a detective and his two assistants. The first two episodes concern the sightings of unidentified flying objects, but the topics subsequently branch out into different phenomena (e.g., bizarre diseases, the Noguhwaho monster legend, mystical cult rituals, etc.) that contribute little pieces to an overarching puzzle. The infusion of science fiction with ancient Korea is very interesting. Much shorter than most K-drama series (12 episodes, 45 minutes each) and makes efficient use of each and every episode. Everything here (acting, production values, scriptwriting) is top notch as it masterfully crafts each individual subplot. Some mysteries are solved neatly, while others go largely unexplained – all of them are thought-provoking in how they contribute to the grand scheme of events. But the positives don't stop there. It almost completely avoids every cliché of the K-drama playbook and seemingly gets stronger with each episode. I also liked the characters and the dreamy mood.