Ultimate Current Watchlist September 2025: Kdramas, Western Dramas, and Anime Worth Your Time
Current Watchlist September 2025: Is a Mixed Bag (And That’s Exactly How I Like It)
Some months I’m heavy on Kdramas, some months it’s all anime, but September? September is chaos. I’ve got angels moonlighting as loan sharks, serial killers with complicated family ties, Jason Momoa sprinting through Hawaiian jungles, and kaiju tearing cities apart.
Let me break down what I’m watching, where I’m at in each show, and whether I’d recommend you dive in too.
Kdramas Currently on My Plate: Twelve -Angels, Loan Sharks, and Fight Scenes That Don’t Hit (Ep 5/8)
The concept is wild: twelve angels disguised as loan sharks, running Angel Capital, but their powers are gone because they trapped evil spirits in the gates of hell. Of course, the demons weren’t sleeping. They’ve been gaining power in the human world and now want payback.
Ma Dong Seok leads as Tae San, the big boss angel. On paper, it sounds like a Kdrama version of a Marvel arc. In reality? The fights aren’t that sharp, the storyline meanders, and I keep watching mainly because I like finishing what I start.
If you loved Tale of the Nine-Tailed, you might be curious. But for me, it’s mid-tier fantasy fare.
Queen Mantis – Serial Killer Mother, Cop Son, and a Copycat Case (Ep 4/8)
Now this is more my lane: gritty, dark, thriller vibes. Jung Yi Shin, a woman abused for years, turned into a serial killer nicknamed Mantis. She murdered abusive men, confessed, and has been in prison for 20 years but she’s still got a hold on her world.
Her son Cha Soo Yeol is now a detective, and while he despises her, he’s also chasing a copycat killer inspired by her crimes.
For me, Yi Shin is fascinating – a morally grey figure with layers. Her son though? Frustrating. Always yelling, always righteous, and it gets grating.
But overall, this is my favorite Kdrama of the three I’m watching right now. Recommended if you love crime thrillers with bite.
The Nice Guy – Gangsters, Poets, and Lee Dong Wook (Ep 6/14)
Seok Chol (played by Lee Dong Wook) is the grandson of a gangster family, but what he really wants is to be a poet. He’s trying to get out of the underworld, but of course the world doesn’t let go so easily.
The vibe is gangster family noir mixed with romance, and honestly it reminded me of Carlito’s Way except without the sharp script.
If I’m sticking with it, it’s because of Lee Dong Wook. He elevates even a shaky show. But I’ll be real: I haven’t touched it in two weeks, so that tells you something.
Western Dramas That Keep Me Guessing: Alien Earth – Brilliant Worldbuilding with Just One Pet Peeve (Ep 7/8)
I’ve already written a mid-season review on this one, so I won’t repeat myself too much. But let me say this: Alien Earth is incredible.
Synthetic kids, alien research vessels, mysterious lifeforms like the Octo-Eye Ocellus, it’s everything an Alien franchise fan could want. Wendy, the first synthetic, even communicates with a Xenomorph.
My only gripe? Sometimes the full-grown Xenomorph looks like a guy in a rubber suit. The movements are clunky, but the storytelling and worldbuilding more than make up for it.
Brilliant stuff.
Chief of War – Jason Momoa, Hawaiian History, and Apocalypto Vibes (Ep 5/9)
This one is rooted in Hawaiian history, the clash of cultures, the arrival of guns, the shaping of identity. Jason Momoa gives it muscle and gravitas, and I was hooked from episode one when he was sprinting through the jungle being chased, giving me Apocalypto flashbacks.
If you don’t like subtitles, you might struggle, but for me – a Kdrama and anime watcher, it’s nothing. The culture, the storytelling, and the sheer scale make this a must-watch.
And yes, Momoa fans, you get plenty of shirtless scenes.
Black Rabbit – Jude Law and Jason Bateman as Brothers (Ep 1/8)
This one I’ve only just started, but the setup is promising. Jude Law plays the polished, rising restaurateur brother. Jason Bateman plays the chaotic, maybe-traitorous brother who crashes into his life.
So far, there’s a robbery, there’s sibling tension, and there’s that “family secrets” vibe. Since I loved Bateman in Ozark and Law since The Talented Mr. Ripley, I’m all in to see where it goes.
Anime That Are Absolutely Delivering: Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 – When Humans Become Monsters (Ep 9/11)
Kafka Hibino, now fully revealed as a kaiju, is facing the smartest monsters yet. The Defense Force team’s strengths and vulnerabilities shine through, and the action is tight and emotional.
I read the manga, but seeing it animated makes it fresh again. The monster designs, the tension, the teamwork: chef’s kiss.
Gachiakuta – Trash Becomes Treasure, Power, and Survival (Ep 10/24)
Rudo, a boy from the slums, gets framed for his guardian’s murder and thrown into the wasteland where trash and people deemed disposable are dumped.
But here’s the twist: his gloves let him unlock the hidden potential of discarded items, turning them into weapons. It’s dystopian yet unique, and has something sharp to say about class divide.
I’m hooked on the concept, and with 24 episodes, I’m in for the long haul.
Dan Da Dan Season 2 – Pure Chaos, Pure Fun (Ep 10/12)
If Season 1 wans eccentric, Season 2 doubles down. Kids battling yokai, aliens, and supernatural forces with powers that are as bizarre as they are brilliant.
Okuran’s Turbo Granny powers, Momo’s psychic abilities, Aira’s spirit inheritance, and now the Evil Eye joining the crew, it’s wild.
This show feels like FLCL levels of eccentricity, and I love it. Only downside? Season 2’s opening song isn’t as iconic as Season 1’s Creepy Nuts track. That one I never skipped. This one? Every time.
Wrapping It Up
So that’s my September 2025 watchlist: Kdramas, Western dramas, and anime all jostling for my attention. Some shows disappoint, some grip me hard, and some are just fun rides I’m not willing to jump off.
What about you? What’s on your current watchlist?
If you’re curious what else I’ve been watching, check out my August KDrama Watchlist or dive into my You and Everything Else Kdrama Review.
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