3 Reasons Why The Riveting Romance Drama "Oasis" Is A Must-Watch For K-Drama Fans

If you’re looking for a K-drama packed with romance, angst, political strife, and drama that keeps you on your toes in every episode, look no further than “Oasis.” The drama follows the story of three friends, Oh Jung Shin (Seol In Ah), Lee Doo Hak (Jang Dong Yoon), and Choi Chul Woong (Choo Young Woo), who are all fighting to protect their youth, love, and dreams amidst the political and social unrest during the 1980s in South Korea. Here are three reasons to add “Oasis” to your watch list.

Warning: Spoilers for the first few episodes below.

The tension between Lee Doo Hak and Choi Chul Woong

As rivals in school, romance, and just life in general, there’s palpable tension between Lee Doo Hak and Choi Chul Woong. While watching them argue over Oh Jung Shin throughout the episodes can be particularly laborious, there’s something much more twisted and sinister between them: murder. These two are inextricably linked from one fateful night when Choi Chul Woong kills Ki Young Tak (Jang Young Joon), and Lee Doo Hak takes the fall for it at his father’s request. Every time they meet up as adults, there’s always a reminder that Choi Chul Woong owes Lee Doo Hak. Jang Dong Yoon and Choo Young Woo have incredible chemistry that perfectly expresses their intense, strained relationship. It keeps you hanging and makes you wonder: how could they ever possibly mend the broken pieces between them?

Oh Jung Shin’s relationship with Cha Geum Ok

Melodramas are known for never letting viewers breathe while watching. There’s always a dramatic twist and betrayal looming around every corner. However, “Oasis” pushes past this narrative with the budding employee and boss relationship between Oh Jung Shin and Cha Geum Ok (Kang Ji Eun). Desperate to save her family’s theater, Oh Jung Shin begs Cha Geum Ok to take her family’s theater and let her work under her to expand her film distribution business. Each episode deepens their relationship, and while they start on unequal footing, they quickly become partners and form a surrogate mother-daughter relationship. It’s always a joy to watch women supporting women in any story, and their scenes are something to look forward to every week.

Oh Jung Shin’s agency within the love triangle

Love triangles are typical of almost any K-drama, and it’s a polarizing trope. Either you love it or hate it. While Lee Doo Hak and Choi Chul Woong offer nothing new to the trope playing the poor, brooding lead versus the rich, entitled second lead, “Oasis” offers Oh Jung Shin agency within the love triangle that’s often lost within this trope. From the very beginning, she firmly tells the two boys she will choose who she likes (spoiler alert: it’s Lee Doo Hak), and she repeatedly reaffirms this to both of them as they grow older. She even says this to her best friend Ham Yang Ja (Oh My Girl’s Seunghee), who believes she should choose the normal, successful, rich guy aka Choi Chul Woong. There’s nothing worse than watching the main female lead in the drama be swayed by other characters’ opinions and ignore her own desires. It’s refreshing to watch Oh Jung Shin declare that it’s her life and that she will make the choices she wants even if they don’t work out.

Overall, “Oasis” embraces the melodrama genre while bringing a few new twists to the table that make it enjoyable. Romance lovers will eat up the drama of the love triangle, audiences who yearn for strong female leads and friendships between women will be satisfied, and fans of action, crime, and revenge genres will appreciate the tumultuous relationship between the two male leads. It perfectly encapsulates a riveting, dramatic, and emotional story of youth.

Check out the first episode below:

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Hey Soompiers! How are you enjoying “Oasis” so far? Let us know in the comments below!

kaityv is a freelance writer and editor. In her spare time, she enjoys watching K-dramas and listening to BTS, Red Velvet, and other talented artists.

Currently watching: “Our Blooming Youth” and “Oasis”
All-time favorites: “Strong Woman Do Bong Soon” and “Do You Like Brahms?”
Looking forward to: “Daily Dose of Sunshine” and “Bo Ra! Deborah” (literal title)