Deadpan queens and ghostly teens: 5 K-dramas for Wednesday fans

All Of Us Are Dead + Wednesday Collage | Images via: Yang Hae-sung/Netflix/Canva | Collage by: Beatrix Kondo of Soap Central
All Of Us Are Dead + Wednesday Collage | Images via: Yang Hae-sung/Netflix/Canva | Collage by: Beatrix Kondo of Soap Central

Fan of Wednesday? From ghost-hunting high schoolers to darkly dressed misfits, these K-dramas are perfect for anyone still craving that mix of deadpan humor, supernatural intrigue, and coming-of-age chaos beyond Nevermore.

Tim Burton’s hit series introduced a new generation to the delight of dark academia, gothic fashion, and oddball friendships that feel more like chosen family than classmates.

At the heart of it is a girl who refuses to smile, yet somehow finds her place among vampires, sirens, and shape-shifters, building unexpected bonds while solving murder mysteries. It’s a show that embraces the beauty of being an outsider, celebrating the sharp, the awkward, and the fiercely independent.

But when that final cello note fades and you’re left wondering where to find your next batch of charming weirdos and twisted adventures, these K-dramas step in. From schools with sinister secrets to young heroes balancing supernatural burdens and very human flaws, they each carry that same spark of rebellious spirit and emotional depth.

These five picks will make you laugh, cry, and maybe want to learn fencing or brush up on your necromancy skills.

1. The Uncanny Counter

Imagine a team of demon-hunters who run a noodle shop so unassuming that no one would guess what happens after closing time. In The Uncanny Counter, these so-called "Counters" track down evil spirits that possess humans and feed on their rage and pain. The action is sleek and satisfying, full of kinetic fight sequences and otherworldly stunts, but what really sets it apart is the warmth behind the characters.

Each Counter has a tragic past and carries emotional scars that give them depth beyond the typical superhero trope. The found-family dynamic is central: they share meals, tease each other, and protect one another fiercely, creating bonds that feel authentic and comforting even amid ghostly battles.

So Mun, the youngest and most relatable member, starts as a physically weak, shy student, but his growth into a resilient fighter mirrors Wednesday’s evolution from lone wolf to reluctant friend. Both stories explore what it means to find your place among misfits, to channel anger into purpose, and to remain unapologetically yourself even when the world demands conformity.

With its blend of slapstick humor, tear-jerking confessions, and edge-of-your-seat showdowns, The Uncanny Counter offers the kind of offbeat, bittersweet thrill that Wednesday fans will savor long after the credits roll.

Image from Alchemy of Souls | Image via: Netflix
Image from Alchemy of Souls | Image via: Netflix

2. Alchemy of Souls

In Alchemy of Souls, the kingdom of Daeho shimmers with secrets, magic, and shifting loyalties. This is a world where powerful mages swap souls and manipulate energy, creating an endless dance of hidden identities and forbidden power.

At its center is Nak-su, a fierce assassin whose soul ends up trapped in the frail body of a servant girl named Mu-deok. She’s sharp, defiant, and constantly plotting her next move, channeling the same stubborn spirit that makes Wednesday such an icon.

The series thrives on contradictions: tender romance set against brutal power struggles, gorgeous landscapes hiding bloody conspiracies, and lighthearted banter shadowed by impending doom. Just like Wednesday, Alchemy of Souls leans into darkness but always finds humor and warmth in the messiest places.

Mu-deok’s dynamic with Jang Uk, the ambitious young mage who becomes her partner in training and mischief, gives the story a charged, slow-burn tension that feels both exhilarating and heartbreaking. If Wednesday’s friendship with Enid was a sweet subversion of the typical “goth girl and perky roommate” trope, Mu-deok and Jang Uk deliver a similar magic-meets-melancholy bond, where every shared glance feels loaded with secrets and suppressed feelings.

Visually, the show is breathtaking, with elaborate costumes, moonlit duels, and lush palaces that look like they belong in a fairytale gone wrong. For Wednesday fans craving a story that blends humor, danger, and a heroine who refuses to bow to fate, Alchemy of Souls is an irresistible pick. It echoes the same spirit of independence and emotional complexity that makes Wednesday unforgettable.

Scene from Tomorrow | Image via: Netflix
Scene from Tomorrow | Image via: Netflix

3. Tomorrow

Imagine a world where grim reapers go beyond guiding souls and intervene to help people choose life. Tomorrow brings this idea to life with a crisis management team from the afterlife dedicated to saving those at their lowest points.

Led by a reaper with striking pink hair, this team handles cases involving regret, depression, and emotional wounds, all while dealing with office politics and unexpected bursts of humor.

Wednesday embraces death with sarcasm and a rebellious spirit, and Tomorrow channels a similar energy but replaces the biting edge with compassion and stylish flair. Each episode dives into themes like bullying, mental health, and family estrangement, yet maintains a visually vibrant, often uplifting tone. It balances darkness and hope in a way that feels familiar to anyone who loved Wednesday.

The team feels like a band of outsiders thrown together by fate, echoing the chosen-family dynamic of Wednesday at Nevermore Academy. Each character carries personal traumas and hidden stories, and watching them fight for others creates a warm, cathartic experience.

Fans drawn to the moments when Wednesday revealed her softer side will find that same emotional release here. Tomorrow proves there is always space for second chances and unexpected bonds, even in a world shaped by death. It offers a strange charm and heartfelt storytelling that make it a perfect match for anyone missing the unique spirit of Wednesday.

May I Help You | Image via: Prime Video
May I Help You | Image via: Prime Video

4. May I Help You?

In May I Help You?, a young woman working at a funeral service suddenly discovers she can communicate with the dead. Each spirit she encounters carries unfinished business, and she decides to help them fulfill their final wishes before they move on. This unusual job brings her into contact with stories full of regret, longing, and unexpected warmth, creating a quiet fabric of small human connections that linger long after each episode ends.

While Wednesday thrives on sharp wit and gothic flair, May I Help You? leans into gentle humor and emotional healing. Yet, there’s a shared core: both heroines are outsiders navigating a world that struggles to understand them. The lead’s interactions with the dead mirror Wednesday’s investigations into hidden truths and unspoken pains around her.

The episodic structure allows each story to breathe, offering different perspectives on loss and closure. Through these encounters, the main character begins to understand herself more deeply, much like Wednesday slowly learns to open up to her strange circle at Nevermore.

Fans who appreciated Wednesday’s gradual journey from icy independence to unexpected compassion will find that same slow-burning warmth here. May I Help You? invites viewers to celebrate quiet moments of grace and discover that even in the most unlikely places, connection can heal the deepest wounds.

Illustration by Max-o-Matic | Image via: Yang Hae-sung/Netflix
Illustration by Max-o-Matic | Image via: Yang Hae-sung/Netflix

5. All of Us Are Dead

Set inside a high school thrown into chaos by a sudden zombie outbreak, All of Us Are Dead transforms typical coming-of-age challenges into a fight for survival. Students who once worried about crushes and exams now face impossible moral choices, betrayals, and the raw struggle to stay alive. The series captures the desperation of youth forced to grow up too quickly, adding a layer of emotional weight to the gore and action.

Wednesday uses the backdrop of Nevermore Academy to explore friendship, belonging, and self-acceptance under a gothic, eccentric lens. In All of Us Are Dead, the school becomes a battleground, yet the emotional stakes feel strikingly similar. The shifting alliances, moments of unexpected tenderness, and fragile trust among classmates echo the intense bonds that made Wednesday so compelling.

The characters evolve under relentless pressure, revealing courage, selfishness, and deep vulnerability. Watching them navigate tight hallways filled with danger feels like a darker, blood-soaked mirror to Wednesday’s social challenges and mysteries at Nevermore.

Both series highlight the pain and beauty of forming connections in hostile environments, showing how even in chaos, loyalty and friendship can become lifelines.

Fans who enjoyed seeing Wednesday confront her fears and learn to rely on others will connect deeply with the emotional arcs here. All of Us Are Dead delivers visceral thrills and heartbreak in equal measure, offering a wild, intense ride that resonates long after the final episode.

Embracing the weird beyond Nevermore: K-dramas for Wednesday fans

These K-dramas prove that the delight of embracing the strange and the misunderstood doesn’t end in Nevermore. Each series invites you into a world where secrets bubble under the surface, outsiders discover unlikely bonds, and darkness becomes a space for growth instead of fear.

The Uncanny Counter captures the power of found family and transformation. Alchemy of Souls enchants with soul-swapping magic and a defiant heroine who refuses to let fate dictate her story. Tomorrow offers hope and tenderness in a place ruled by death. May I Help You? explores loss through small, heartfelt acts of kindness, and All of Us Are Dead shows how fragile teenage friendships can become lifelines when everything falls apart.

At its core, Wednesday celebrates weirdness as strength and loneliness as something to be explored rather than cured. These Korean dramas echo that same spirit in beautifully distinct ways, offering laughter, tears, and just enough supernatural twists to keep you hooked.

So when the halls of Nevermore feel too quiet and you find yourself missing Wednesday’s sharp wit and shadowy adventures, these stories stand ready to fill that void. Dive in and let them remind you that sometimes the best connections happen in the darkest places.

Edited by Beatrix Kondo