Television series
My Fellow Citizens
A con artist who's never been caught falls for a woman at a bar—then discovers she's a cop on their wedding day. Blackmailed into running for parliament, he must navigate politics, crime, and genuine feeling in this zippy Korean comedy that treats its premise as permission to be ridiculous. It's *Ocean's Eleven* meets sitcom energy, charming and fast.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you enjoy a con-artist story where the comedy comes from a schemer repeatedly outplayed by people sharper than himself, and you don't mind romance taking up a steady share of the plot.
Skip it if you want a tight, self-contained film, since 36 episodes is a real commitment and the romance can turn sentimental.
What it asks of you: A long, episodic run of thirty-six episodes at around thirty-five minutes each, unhurried enough to let the scenes breathe as the mood slides from scheming to sentiment.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Squid Game2021
A global phenomenon that also mines Korean society for dark comedy beneath its survival-game premise. Compulsive, brilliantly acted, and it takes its absurd setup seriously enough to matter.
But Genuinely bleak and violent in ways that can feel heavy. If you want lightweight fun, this goes to places that sting.
Itaewon Class2020
Another Korean series about an outsider using cunning to dismantle systems from within. Revenge-driven but funny, with the same ensemble-caper energy and messy characters you want to root for.
But Longer and more melodramatic than *My Fellow Citizens*. Takes itself very seriously, especially in later episodes. Commitment required.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend2015
A musical comedy-drama about someone who makes terrible decisions for love, told with self-aware humor and genuine emotional stakes. Fast, clever, and it knows exactly what it's doing.
But American and very different in tone, though the DNA is similar. Takes a few episodes to find its rhythm. Musical numbers aren't for everyone.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from My Fellow Citizens
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Mr. Sunshine2011
Both center a charismatic man using cunning to navigate systems while falling for a woman on the other side of the law. Both are structured as romance-thriller hybrids where the schemes serve the relationship, not the other way around.
A Korean historical drama set during Japanese occupation where a con man and a freedom fighter dance around each other with wit, charm, and impossible love. Same DNA of clever schemes and romantic tension, but transplanted to 1910 Korea.
But Very long, very serious, and genuinely about resistance and colonialism. The comedy is drier. Takes historical trauma seriously in ways *My Fellow Citizens* doesn't need to.
More like this (7)
Catch Me If You Can2002
Spielberg and DiCaprio on con artistry, charm, and the cat-and-mouse dynamic between criminal and law. Beautifully paced, witty, and it respects both sides of the game.
But A film, not a series—you lose the episodic pleasure. Also slightly dated in feel, though not in a bad way.
Ocean's Eleven2001
The template for smart-criminal ensemble caper: slick, funny, impossible, and designed so you want everyone to succeed. Pure entertainment that respects your intelligence.
But Glossy in a way *My Fellow Citizens* isn't. Less interested in actual consequences or character depth. Vibes over substance.
Tower Heist2011
A Korean film about a jewel heist and the criminals pulling it off. Stylish, entertaining, and it has that same blend of humor and crime that makes the premise sing.
But Less romantic subplot, more pure heist mechanics. If you loved the scheming in *My Fellow Citizens*, this doubles down on it at the expense of character warmth.
Vincenzo2021
A Korean lawyer returns from the mafia to fight corruption using shady methods and team chemistry. Slick, fun, and it plays the moral ambiguity for both laughs and genuine tension.
But Longer episodes and more violent. The tone can be uneven—it doesn't always know if it's comedy or action thriller.
The Gentlemen2020
A crime caper about criminals, cops, and journalists all playing angles against each other. Darkly funny, beautifully constructed, and every character is having fun in their own way.
But Much darker and more violent. British slang-heavy at times. Doesn't have the romantic sweetness that makes *My Fellow Citizens* work.
Good Girls2018
Suburban women turn to crime out of desperation and discover they're good at it. Funny, tense, and it genuinely explores why normal people do criminal things.
But American, heavier on consequences. Loses momentum across seasons. Less romantic, more fractured relationships.
She's the One1996
Both portray con artists as people, not cartoons. Both find humor in the gap between who criminals think they are and who they actually are. Both suggest that charm and criminality aren't opposites—they're often the same skill deployed differently.
A French documentary about three brothers who run petty cons on tourists in Paris. Filmed like a caper, funny and sad at once, it shows real criminals with real charm and real failure. *My Fellow Citizens* as anthropology.
But A documentary, not fiction—no plot resolution. Shot on small budgets. If you're watching for the romance and wedding, this has neither. Morally complicated; you won't feel good about laughing at them.
