Youth/1st love
Coming of Age/school/1st love type of dramas I liked. Initially ordered by rank, but then later gave up organizing this list.
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1. Extraordinary You
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
Fresh story, fresh cast and just cute all around
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2. It Started with a Kiss
Taiwanese Drama - 2005, 20 episodes
Joe Chen and Ariel just have too much chemistry.
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3. A Love So Beautiful
Chinese Drama - 2017, 23 episodes
Undeniable chemistry between the leads.
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4. Our Beloved Summer
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
Opposites attract in a relatable journey to self discovery and love
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5. Nevertheless,
Korean Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
HOT chemistry between flawed characters. Loved the more realistic portrayal of the insecurities that comes with dating in your 20s and the more mature view on skinship/sex.
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6. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
Light hearted and easy to watch. Chemistry between the leads was so cute
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7. My ID Is Gangnam Beauty
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
Ugly duckling type of story.
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8. Reply 1997
Korean Drama - 2012, 16 episodes
Cute, fun, and nostalgic
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9. Reply 1988
Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes
Great acting from the entire cast.
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10. Reply 1994
Korean Drama - 2013, 21 episodes
Not as good as the other Reply series, but still entertaining
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11. Go Ahead
Chinese Drama - 2020, 46 episodes
Coming of Age/family drama. Just so well done
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12. Boys over Flowers
Korean Drama - 2009, 25 episodes
The one that started the kdrama craze I think. Looking back on it now, I'm not sure I can rewatch this as the obstacles are so ridiculous, but at that time, the F4 ruled. lol
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13. Dream High
Korean Drama - 2011, 16 episodes
IU, Kim Soo Hyun, Taec yeon, and Suzy at the start of their acting career. Music plus youth
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14. Just Dance
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
Easy entertaining watch. sad they cut this short
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15. Wait, My Youth
Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes
Similar to a Love so Beautiful. I love the ML's deep voice
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16. My Unicorn Girl
Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
cute, cheesy, and cliche
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17. Youth
Chinese Drama - 2018, 24 episodes
Typical lighthearted school drama. The ML has that somethin somethin that made me stay tuned. Bad thing is there are subs only for ep 1- 10.
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18. A Little Thing Called First Love
Chinese Drama - 2019, 36 episodes
Adorable
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19. Love Alarm
Korean Drama - 2019, 8 episodes
A little too "Angsty" for me, but short enough to capture my interest. Plus there's just something about Song Kang.
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20. My First First Love
Korean Drama - 2019, 8 episodes
Light hearted and cute but may not be so cute with JiSoo's scandal hitting headlines recently
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21. Twenty-Five Twenty-One
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
Nostalgic and fun for the 1st half. 2nd half was a little draggy and messy, but overall a good reflection of the memory of 1st love
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22. Our Secret
Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes
Slow burn. Loved watching the leads fall slowly in love, but everything else was a little boring. The pace was too slow. Would have been better if they had cut the episodes in half.
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23. Love All Play
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
easy watch. puppy love with some sports sprinkled in. Fun chemistry
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24. Dear.M
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
Sweet slow steady quiet burn from the ML similar to the ML in A Love So Beautiful
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25. Lighter & Princess
Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes
Cute chemistry and Arthur Chen are what kept me tuned in, but the series was too long and the progression too slow.
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26. Unrequited Love
Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes
Such relatable characters in a realistic story. Loved the natural flow of progression
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27. Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo
Japanese Drama - 2013, 16 episodes
Tsundere ML who falls slowly for the relentless FL who adores him
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28. Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo Season 2
Japanese Drama - 2014, 16 episodes
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29. Hidden Love
Chinese Drama - 2023, 25 episodes
From puppy love into a slow burn, watching the leads fall in love was so sweet and simple. Full of cute chemistry that will give you a warm fuzzy feeling. Do wish that the episodes were shorter though and the pace faster.
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30. Time and Him Are Just Right
Chinese Drama - 2022, 25 episodes
A cross between Wait, My Youth and A Love so beautiful. The main leads are cute with loads of chemistry, but the rest of the story outside of them was boring. Too much filler
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31. Lovely Runner
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
Star crossed lovers time travel story. Gave me Someday or One day vibes. Messy writing,, but the chemistry will keep you tuned in. Byeon Woo Seok will have you melting
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32. Serendipity's Embrace
Korean Drama - 2024, 8 episodes
Chae Jong Hyeop is super cute and Kim So Hyun is infectiously likeable in this short simple youth romance. It's an easy breezy, but forgettable watch.