K-Dramas With the Best First Episodes! Ranked!
- lewishooper1
- Dec 12, 2025
- 3 min read
The instant hook that'll leave you speechless! We rank the best K-dramas that'll have you binging for hours!
This article will focus on the top five K-dramas that hooked viewers and the Dojeon team right from the outset, leaving us wanting more, while sitting at the edge of our seats! So let's check them out!
This K-drama had the Dojeon team and other K-drama enthusiasts hooked right from the get-go, thanks to the fast-paced, high-action opening scenes! However, the opening scenes caused a sense of panic due to their brutal, high school nightmare of a drama storyline that drove fans crazy on social media!
It instantly establishes the virus through a deeply personal and disturbing student-on-student attack. Within minutes, Hyosan High collapses into full-blown chaos, trapping its students. This drama is Dojeon's number one when it comes to the best first drama episodes!
The first episode of Weak Hero Class 1 immediately captivates viewers by introducing Yeon Si-eun, a physically slight, top-ranked student, who uses his brilliant intellect and surrounding objects to fight back against escalating school violence.
This gripping start showcases high-stakes action right from the beginning, giving viewers a powerful initial impression of the drama's strong execution. As the show progresses, it reveals the protagonist's quiet composure being shattered by calculated, almost savage defense tactics.
The series hooks the audience with a unique "brain over brawn" approach that elevates the bullied student trope, setting the stage for a dark and complex story.
The Dojeon team believes that this high school drama, which is packed with action and suspense, will leave viewers on the edge of their seats—which is exactly what a great K-drama should do! This innovative take is why the drama has secured the number two spot on our list!
My Name hooked viewers from the beginning by revealing the whole story in the first episode. Don't worry, because the rest of the drama 'fills in the blanks' and we couldn't stop watching!
The episode begins with Yoon Ji-woo (Han So-hee) living in fear and defiance as the daughter of a wanted gangster, isolated and bullied by her peers. This caused some fans to feel a little confused but, at the same time, curious to learn more about the situation. Later, a sudden, violent tragedy fuelled her rage-driven quest for vengeance, leading her straight to the doorstep of her father’s criminal organisation. The episode ends with Ji-woo making a life-altering decision to infiltrate the deadly criminal underworld at any cost to find the truth. Talk about a hook!
Action and high emotional stakes were experienced first-hand in episode one, thanks to this high-energy blockbuster!
From the start, we saw So-mun (Cho Byeong-kyu), a quiet student who begins sensing supernatural ripples disturbing his ordinary life. At the same time, an elite team of “Counters” battles an evil spirit in a thrilling, action-packed chase sequence. The episode concluded by linking So-mun to this mysterious universe in a bold and instantly addictive way.
Last up on our list is a drama that caused viewers to feel tense immediately, leading to an emotional investment right from the start.
Opening scenes showed fearless special force officer Yoon Sae-bom (Han Hyo-joo) and detective Jung Yi-hyun (Park Hyung-sik) encounter a disturbing, bite-triggered infection during a high-stress training scenario. This was before they witnessed the violent outbreak as authorities desperately tried to contain it. The episode quickly escalated into full-scale quarantine, setting the stage for an intense, apartment-building survival drama. Yes, this did trend on social media at the time, and it actually paved the way for more K-zombie series in later years!
Which drama has the best first episode in your opinion? Comment below and let the Dojeon Team know your thoughts.
Comments