TOP SHOWS WATCHED IN 2021
my personal favorite shows i watched in 2021
list starts at most recent so from december 2021 to january 2021 because i dont plan ahead :(
also im trying my best to put down my thoughts on these shows like up to a year after watching them so sorry
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1. The Gifted
Thai Drama - 2018, 13 episodes
truth: i watched this because of nanon
fact: i stayed because each one of these actors i grew to love and plan on watching everything they are in thanks GMMTV
i binged this show in one night and really liked the style of focusing on each character before gathering them all up for the last arc
kinda sad they didnt do one for the twins AJ and JJ :(
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2. The Gifted Graduation
Thai Drama - 2020, 13 episodes
i personally do not think the second season/sequel was that great
but of course i watched it for the actors because i love them
and i loved tay being in this so that was fun
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3. Kieta Hatsukoi
Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
i am a sucker for japanese high school romance plus the added bonus of it being LGBT
japanese shows just hit different and this was super wholesome
and i just need more at this point
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4. Falling in Love Like a Romantic Drama Season 1
Japanese TV Show - 2018, 10 episodes
i had this weird hyperfixation of japanese reality tv shows on netflix and binged everything
the first season of falling in love with a really long title was my personal fave but i loved all the seasons and wished i could watch the 4th, 5th, and 6th
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5. Dali and the Cocky Prince
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
honestly most kdramas flopped this year imo
dali and the cocky prince i watched in the background while playing minecraft tbh
but they captivated me
sure its a simple story as evident by the fact i could play minecraft while watching it, but the romance between the two just made me so happy
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6. Ashi Girl
Japanese Drama - 2017, 12 episodes
time travel dramas are amazing
and i think japan does them the best for some reason
i think it has something to do with the fact the combine in with other genres
i mean this one was obviously a time traveling comedy and it hit all the right marks (?) idk
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7. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
im surprised i didnt rate this higher because this drama made my weekends while it was airing
maybe it was just a little bit too cozy? its not the most unique show either
but the cast and side characters really do make this show
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8. Definitely Not Today
Chinese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
i loved this couple from be yourself which is also on this list
i think this drama really suited them and was definitely not something i expected from china at all this year or ever maybe
it handles such a dark theme but in a comedic way ie dark humor
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9. Innocent
Taiwanese Drama - 2021, 4 episodes
damn ok taiwan
another unexpected show this year and i loved every bit of it
perhaps this year could be marked with subverted expectations with surprising content
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10. Be Yourself
Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes
this is china's 2021 typical campus romance story that felt very relatable
probably because i had recently graduated from college and was missing the campus life lol
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11. The Day of Becoming You
Chinese Drama - 2021, 26 episodes
i love steven cheng lol
also love stories involving celebrities and like secret? relationships but the couple in this show could not give two sh*ts about it
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12. One and Only
Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes
ouch my heart hurted after watching this one and like thinking about how this would have been if not for censorship laws the sequel to this show would be on this list too
its such a beautifully shot and written story and i might one day read the source material
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13. Blue Birthday
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
idk why people hate on idol actors like give them a change and also not everyone can be like suzy or chanee
this is one of the few web dramas i watched this year that really impressed me
i also just love a "who done it" story so :)
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14. You Are My Glory
Chinese Drama - 2021, 32 episodes
wow this couple love each other so much
it was tooth rotting and i loved every single part of it
it was such a mature and simple love story between two adults with actual jobs woohoo
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15. Light on Me
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
for a show based off of a mobile dating sim omg
sometimes these kinds of shows do more like a open ending or poly route but this show said "nope we aint gonna do that, how about a love triangle that kills you"
i was team shinwoo since day 1 not trying to flex
but i knew the actor from before so i was already a simp for him lol
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16. You Make Me Dance
Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
romance between a totally not repressed debtor and the broke college student with mommy issues trying to pay back his debt
amazing, brilliant, groundbreaking, breathtaking show with an amazing ost that i listen to today
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17. Mad for Each Other
Korean Drama - 2021, 13 episodes
what a show that actually deals with trauma while still being funny and not down playing that drama holy cow
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18. We Best Love: No. 1 For You
Taiwanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
tsundere x puppy love story?? also childhood rivals to one sided love to friends? to lovers
or something like that i have no idea lol
also love how the subtitle for this season was how shi de wanted to be no 1 for shu yi
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19. We Best Love: Fighting Mr. 2nd
Taiwanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
oooooh now they are working adults lets go and why are they not together :o
exes to lovers lets go haha
and also i still want more for the secondary couples
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20. Be Loved in House: I Do
Taiwanese Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
boss x employee romance
kinda messy but still beautiful
i cry each time i watch the coming out scene
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21. Kono Koi Atatamemasu ka
Japanese Drama - 2020, 10 episodes
another boss x employee relationship that focuses on making desserts for a convenience store
huh
anyway this show really impressed me and im not sure why
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22. Nitiman
Thai Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
generic and messy thai bl set at a uni
but!
thats just the way i like it haha
*also wild that the source material is a got7 fanfic which i refuse to wrap my head around*
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23. I Promised You the Moon
Thai Drama - 2021, 5 episodes
ICONIC
i actually avoided watching this because of the whole like cheating plot line
but its actually understandable? like i have no idea how to explain it just watch it
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24. Koi wa Deep ni
Japanese Drama - 2021, 9 episodes
this show was amazing and it is 100% because of the two main actors
like i could watch these two together for centuries
they had really great chemistry and really made me appreciate this cute love story
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25. Move to Heaven
Korean Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
LEE JU HOON my beloved
and this show wrecked my emotions each story was so well written and im happy with each story they chose
how to move on after losing someone
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26. Uchi no Musume wa, Kareshi ga Dekinai!!
Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
a somewhat bizarre japanese drama
i loved the mother-daughter relationship in this
and i was shocked that alexandros was in this???
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27. Lovely Writer
Thai Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
subvert and parody bl tropes
commentary on the harmful bl industry
while also giving an amazingly cute love story
thank you
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28. Word of Honor
Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes
GONG JUN out here collecting men and i am so proud of him
WoH was 2021's The Untamed and it was amazing
it even had my favorite trope: found family
and my favorite look: GONG JUN in red eyeliner woof
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29. Second Chance
Thai Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
someone i follow labels this a pulp thai show which i barely understand what that means but it feels right
this show was messy and cheap and was made really only to make a profit really and truly feels like those trailers that production companies make to get investors
but i feel like this show also deserves a second chance (see what i did there) because if you are really passionate about this show it becomes so beautiful
and the ost is amazing and i still listen to the songs (especially the opening song)
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30. Professional Single
Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
i loved all the pottery and sculpting in this show
funnily enough my dorm roommate was taking pottery classes and she mentioned stuff they were talking about
it made me regret not choosing those classes but alas i had a booked schedule if i wanted to graduate on time
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31. Hello Stranger
Filipino Drama - 2020, 8 episodes
hey another quarantine love story but this felt more believable
mainly for the fact that i did online schooling due to covid around this time and it was just spot on
and who doesnt love a jock and nerd romance (that honestly hits the peak in the movie sequel)
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32. Scripting Your Destiny
Korean Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
have i mentioned that i love romance haha
this was the supernatural love story for 2021 at least for me it was
and this show was simply enjoyable
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33. Boys' Lockdown
Filipino Drama - 2020, 6 episodes
what was up with the d*ck face masks?
who am i kidding this show was so campy and out there and i loved every second
the perfect show about quarantine romance (but someone answer me if you like actually participated in voluntary zoominars and stuff like that, im too much of an introvert and too lazy for that)
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34. Sweet Home
Korean Drama - 2020, 10 episodes
another show watched with my fiance (then boyfriend)
we watched this together because he had actually read the webtoon and i though haha time to indoctrinate him into the world of asian dramas
which still hasnt happened even though we have been together for 5 years and we have watched about that amount of dramas together :(
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35. As if You Whisper
Korean Movie - 2019
once again a simple love story between a wannabe singer-songwriter and his fan
but my god does this short movie just hit different
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36. Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai VS Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko
Japanese Special - 2021, 1 episode
subvert and parody those bl tropes all the time please
and damn i really thought that line about there being a second season in this show was just a big joke
but no its actually happening :o
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37. A Tale of Thousand Stars
Thai Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
oh hey p'aof can i have my heart back, i dont think tian needs every viewer's heart since he just had one transplanted, thanks
honestly this show solidified my thought that p'aof is the best director gmmtv has right now
and my god p'mix acted his heart out
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38. YYY
Thai Drama - 2020, 6 episodes
another silly little show with a lot of thai comedy that some international audiences would be turned off by
i love talay such a funky little dude
this show was just so funny and tropey and messy and great
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39. Kinou Nani Tabeta?
Japanese Drama - 2019, 12 episodes
wholesome. just so wholesome.
thank you japan
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40. Better Days
Chinese Movie - 2019
every once in a while china will just release the most amazing thing in existence like its nothing
i really should be on the look out for more chinese media but i typically ignore it since the censorship laws really degrade a lot of the storytelling
but this movie shocked me by saying "so what about the censorship laws heres something that will knock your socks off and you're welcome"
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41. Ingredients
Thai Special - 2020, 21 episodes
an advertisement for a grocery store that did not have to go off this hard
im probably going to rewatch this in the next couple weeks for a nice pick me up
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42. To My Star (Movie)
Korean Movie - 2021
wow this movie/show is amazing i've watched it several times now and it still amazes me
probably because i am a simple creature who loves romance
they deserve the world and i cannot wait for the continuation
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43. Manner of Death
Thai Drama - 2020, 14 episodes
maxtul comeback
i am amazed at this story and i remember reading so many analyses and theories when this show was airing
fun fact i wrote about this for an essay in german class and my professor actually asked me about it and i died a little bit instead cuz i only focused on the crime and police aspects of the show and i did not have the heart to tell him any bit of the truth
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44. Imawa no Kuni no Alice
Japanese Drama - 2020, 8 episodes
watched this one with my fiance because i know he loves this kind of show
and i know i love kento and my fiance now knows that too since i would shut up about it
2nd season when?
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45. Run On
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
i loved every single character in this
another idol-turned-actor that i love in each time i see them on screen
and im still a sucker for romance
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46. Nobunaga Concerto
Japanese Drama - 2014, 11 episodes
classic i love you oguri shun (i struggled so hard to type his name)
but i remember being obsessed with the anime version of this and its OP
but this was an amazing adaptation that left me feeling stunned
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47. Restart after Come back Home
Japanese Movie - 2020
nothing like a good ol' heimat film (thank you my german professor for teaching me to love these kinds of films)
essentially love is stored in rural towns (think hallmark christmas movies where the girl goes back home or to a town in the middle of nowhere and falls in love with a rugged boy who will teach her the true meaning of christmas)
sorry to rant but i had to present a paper on heimat films and boy
dm me if interesting in learning more about heimat films (they are german but imo not really lol)
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48. Life: Love on the Line (Director's Cut)
Japanese Movie - 2020
atm i cant recall if these was any difference between this cut and the other version but
i feel like this movie really does so the reality of some people in the LGBT+ community
that sometimes expectations of society makes a person conform to something that isnt them
and that each person truly deserves to be themselves and is allowed that happiness from doing such
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49. Back to 1989
Taiwanese Drama - 2016, 21 episodes
time traveling mystery with some romance woohoo
i remember binging this show during winter break from college and thinking this is simple but i love it
and also i loved the family in this
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50. Kiss Goblin
Korean Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
silly and simple webdrama premise with one of my fave actors BAE IN HYUK thank you
honestly short webdramas are my secret indulgences
that and any kind of romance lol