Historical Dramas
Guide to my ratings:
9.5-10.0 Highly recommend
8.5-9.0 Enjoyed
8.0 Comme ci comme ça
-
1. 100 Days My Prince
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
-
2. A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College
Chinese Drama - 2021, 30 episodes
Historical RomCom with FL causing chaos as the first female in an all-male college. Student - Dean relationship, where the FL pursues the ML.
-
3. A Love So Romantic
Chinese Drama - 2020, 32 episodes
Historical RomCom with FL in a fake sibling contract with ML
-
4. Are You the One
Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes
This was a compelling series which got me hooked early. The premise is so interesting and I really wanted to know where it was headed and all the mystery behind Cui Jiu and Liu Mian Tang. This show just clicked all the right boxes for me: hidden identity, political intrigue, action, romance, comedy. And the antagonists got their comeuppance - always so satisfying.
-
5. Arsenal Military Academy
Chinese Drama - 2019, 48 episodes
FL cross-dresses and assumes her brother's identity to attend an all-male military school. ML is her roommate who falls for her. Tags: Action, Love Triangle
-
6. As Long as We Both Shall Live
Japanese Movie - 2023
Fantasy Romance Drama based on a novel where FL is married off to a family where the ML has strong powers even though she has none. I really liked this movie. ML's sister was the absolute best SIL for FL.
-
7. Blossoms in Adversity
Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes
FL's family goes through many hardships, all because of the Emperor's insecurity. Thankfully, with the FL's leadership & creativity, and the ML's support, the Hua family survives and eventually thrives again. HEA
-
8. Bossam: Steal the Fate
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
-
9. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Chinese Movie - 2000
-
10. Decreed by Fate
Chinese Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
Historical RomCom with FL running away from her engagement by imperial decree. Not liking being forced into marriage, she starts helping other women by opening a divorce office far from home
-
11. Destined
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
Enemies-to-lovers trope where the leads have an arranged marriage early in the series. They negotiate a truce and plan to divorce once they meet certain criteria, but found they were better partners than they could have imagined. I found the ML’s mother an endearing and perfect MIL, as she imparts pearls of business wisdom to her daughter-in-law. Political and business intrigue, as well as action scenes. Leads had great rapport.
-
12. Fake Princess
Chinese Drama - 2020, 27 episodes
-
13. Fall in Love with My Bad Boy
Chinese Movie - 2020
-
14. Fated to Love You
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
-
15. Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
-
16. Hwarang
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
I was not a big fan of the FL, but I adored the ML and SML. And the cast of gorgeous Hwarang warriors kept me glued to the screen. Bromance at its finest.
-
17. I Feel You Linger in the Air: Uncut Version
Thai Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
Time travel, fated mates, amazing production.
-
18. Knight Flower
Korean Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
A widow who is filial by day but is a female Robin Hood at night, helping the poor and the helpless in a corrupt city.
-
19. Love Like the Galaxy: Part 1
Chinese Drama - 2022, 27 episodes
Mystery, Romance, Political, Revenge. Complex characters with convoluted family relationships. Epic action and fight scenes. Leads had great chemistry. This is one of my favorites, which I binge-watched in 5 days (all 56 episodes). There was no character that was all-good or all-evil, which made them so much more interesting to me. The FL could be annoying yet, knowing where she was coming from, I could see how she learned to manipulate to survive 2nd aunt's household. The ML could be charming, protective, yet there were times he scared the sh*t out of me. Highly recommended.
-
20. Love Like the Galaxy: Part 2
Chinese Drama - 2022, 29 episodes
Mystery, Romance, Political, Revenge. Complex characters with convoluted family relationships. Epic action and fight scenes. Leads had great chemistry. This is one of my favorites, which I binge-watched in 5 days (all 56 episodes). There was no character that was all-good or all-evil, which made them so much more interesting to me. The FL could be annoying yet, knowing where she was coming from, I could see how she learned to manipulate to survive 2nd aunt's household. The ML could be charming, protective, yet there were times he scared the sh*t out of me. Highly recommended.
-
21. Meet You at the Blossom
Thai Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
A positive step for danmeis, as we get a proper BL from a joint venture between Thailand and China. Leads had chemistry and we get an enjoyable show.
TW: NonCon when ML was shot with poisoned aphrodisiac arrows. -
22. My Bossy Wife
Chinese Drama - 2022, 28 episodes
-
23. My Bossy Wife Season 2
Chinese Drama - 2022, 28 episodes
-
24. My Sassy Princess
Chinese Drama - 2022, 22 episodes
-
25. My Uncanny Destiny
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
FL and ML are Lords (Kings/Rulers) of their own cities. ML's father died, and he blames FL's family for the death. FL rules as a male. It is funny with lots of steamy kisses and action scenes.
-
26. New Life Begins
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
ML is the 6th Lord and was sickly as a child so he tends to be quieter than his brothers. FL arrives into Xin Chuan as part of the marriage selection. She is quirky and hilarious, but also generous and kind. One of the best CDramas I've seen with wonderful sismance; the wives and concubines really supported one another. Slow burn romance with satisfying ending.
-
27. Nobleman Ryu's Wedding
Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
-
28. Oh! My Sweet Liar!
Chinese Drama - 2020, 29 episodes
-
29. Our Blooming Youth
Korean Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
FL cross-dresses as a eunuch to be part of the Crown Prince's circle, as she tries to solve her family's murder for which she is accused. Great chemistry between the leads.
-
30. Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung
Korean Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
-
31. Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning
Japanese Movie - 2021
-
32. Rurouni Kenshin: The Final
Japanese Movie - 2021
-
33. Sungkyunkwan Scandal
Korean Drama - 2010, 20 episodes
Gender bender FL as she attends an all-boys school as her brother. ML and SML are her roommates. I had massive Second Lead Syndrome watching this, as I truly rooted for the SML. Tags: Comedy, Romance, Youth, Love Triangle.
-
34. The Double
Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes
Palace intrigue snares the innocent lives of the Xue family, and one fateful day intertwines the lives of Xue Fang Fei (aka Xue Li) and Jiang Li. From that day on, Ah Li would endure any hardship to fulfill the revenge requests made that day. And she had her own 报仇 bàochóu to mete out. Only then, can she truly feel at peace.
-
35. The Forbidden Marriage
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
In the first couple of episodes, the FL's shaman acting was a bit over the top and was not meant to be taken seriously. This historical show has comedy, romance, action, and mystery. The chemistry and rapport among the FL/ML, ML/SML and FL/SML were so good. Satisfying ending.
-
36. The King's Affection
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
FL cross-dresses as crown prince when her twin brother is killed. She eventually becomes the monarch, is married but manages to avoid consummating the marriage.
-
37. The Legendary Life of Queen Lau
Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes
Prepare for campy. This show does not take itself seriously and neither should you. It is funny, has some drama as well as some political intrigue. ML and FL are in an arranged marriage.
-
38. The Long Ballad
Chinese Drama - 2021, 49 episodes
I didn't think I would binge-watch a series I wasn't even interested in watching. Then, it was highly recommended to me and 4 days later, I had completed the 49 episodes. I laughed, I cried, I felt their angst. In certain scenes, the almost seamless action to animation transitions were quite interesting. It was a first for me to see that in a show. [I have seen it in a musical video before and loved it.] The ML and FL were both fairly even-keeled in their temperaments, and always thinking about strategy. Then, we have the SFL, perfectly acted by Zhao Lu Si, who was ruled by her emotions and the SML, who was ruled by his foster father. I loved the character growth of the main characters and some support characters. There were historical changes around them; it was realistic that they, too, changed.
-
39. The Longest Promise
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
Currently watching
-
40. The Matchmakers
Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
-
41. The Princess and the Matchmaker
Korean Movie - 2018
-
42. The Story of Pearl Girl
Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes
The story of a slave who frees herself over and over again before finally achieving success as a jewelry shop owner and trusted guild member. She was fiercely loyal & generous to her friends and, in turn, they were loyal to her. There is romance in the story but it's not the main theme.
TW: Revenge is a sub-plot (main plot for one of the characters) and there are a lot of fighting and bloody scenes at times. Attempted sexual assault happens early in the story. -
43. The Tale of Nokdu
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
ML cross-dresses to enter a widows’ village where he believes he has traced the assassins that attacked his village. As he digs deeper, he finds more than he bargained for. Great action scenes, palace intrigue, comedy, romance.
-
44. The Untamed
Chinese Drama - 2019, 50 episodes
- The Untamed (China, 2019) Great acting, wonderful cinematography, political intrigue, chemistry between the MLs is fantastic. I love this Xianxia-danmei BL drama. It uses queer-coding at its best, bypassing Chinese censorship. While we don't see depictions of an actual queer relationship, there were plenty of examples of the MLs' growing closeness.
- They call each other their soulmates.
- Lan Zhan allows Wei Ying to touch his headband, a privilege reserved for parents or spouses. In one scene, they are attached with the headband (which many viewers liken to the red sash in a Chinese wedding ceremony).
- Physical touching: holding each back, carrying each other, etc.
- Flirty eyes from WY and longing gazes from LZ.
- Drunk LZ gifted WY two chickens (Chinese betrothal gift).
- Bowing together in front of memorial tablets.
- Bowing together in front of Lan ancestor.
- Bunnies saved by WY, shown kissing. Bunnies on lantern when they made their wishes/vows. Tu Shen (Chinese: 兔神; pinyin: Tùshén, The Rabbit God), is a Chinese deity of love and sex between men.
- The Untamed (China, 2019) Great acting, wonderful cinematography, political intrigue, chemistry between the MLs is fantastic. I love this Xianxia-danmei BL drama. It uses queer-coding at its best, bypassing Chinese censorship. While we don't see depictions of an actual queer relationship, there were plenty of examples of the MLs' growing closeness.
-
45. To Sir, with Love
Thai Drama - 2022, 17 episodes
Set in 1930s and 1940s, Romance, Fantasy, Drama (I would say melodramatic, esp. for Song’s first and second wives). Thian has been groomed to take over the family business, but he has a secret that is costing lives. I love the relationship between brothers Yang and Thian.
-
46. Truth or Dare
Chinese Drama - 2021, 30 episodes
-
47. Under the Queen's Umbrella
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
I enjoyed every minute of this sageuk. For me, there was not a second that felt like it was dragging. Instead, it felt like watching two masters play chess where discarded pieces could very well be bodies dropping on the ground! But it was speed chess, no time to dilly dally lest your opponent gets the better of you. I esp. like the bromance between the Crown Prince and Grand Prince Sung Nam. Little romance.
-
48. Who Rules the World
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
Epic political wuxia with hidden identities. 100% enjoyable where the FL and ML are well-matched in skill and smarts.
-
49. Wonderland of Love
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
Enemies to lovers with equally-matched ML and FL. They had a wonderful banter and chemistry.
-
50. Word of Honor
Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes
-
51. Word of Honor - Epilogue
Chinese Special - 2021, 1 episode
-
52. Wrong Carriage, Right Groom
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
-
53. Wuliang
Chinese Movie - 2020
Very short film that deserves to be much longer.