Top 5 Dramas (Annual List)
Top 5 favorites for the year (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022).
I'd recommend to anyone (especially those who like Chinese romcoms).
Sorted by year and alphabetically.
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1. Time and Him Are Just Right
Chinese Drama - 2022, 25 episodes
WATCHED: 2023
- consistent LOLs in the first half or so
- not a typical school drama...FL isn't head over heels into ML just because of his well-roundness
- both ML and FL have doubts at some point in their relationship but they bounce back
- there are points in time when FL is trying and times when ML is trying to repair their relationship
- good acting and chemistry
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2. Stand or Fall
Chinese Drama - 2023, 32 episodes
WATCHED: 2023
- ML and FL are both career driven king & queeeeen
- mature relationship once they start dating
- realistic friendship of three girlies supporting each other through thick and thin: even though at some points they are more distant from each other, in the end they are always there for each other
- [spoiler] SML + SFL relationship of rich husband and stay-at-home wife where they are loyal to each other through thick and thin
- great acting from all of the main cast
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3. Fake It Till You Make It
Chinese Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
WATCHED: 2023
- mature relationship, non-cringe flirting, no breakup
- realistic and unique personalities of all characters, personal growth visible
- FL's and ML's job position is appropriate for years worked (both are high achievers, not some fresh grad that is a VP)
- sensible story
- well paced and consistent, general feel-good
- fitting OST
- quality production (like a Taiwanese movie)
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4. Here We Meet Again
Chinese Drama - 2023, 32 episodes
WATCHED: 2023
- amazing chemistry and OST
- consistent pacing
- no chunk of episodes that are particularly frustrating
- both ML and FL are smart and independent
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5. Lighter & Princess
Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes
WATCHED: 2023
- deep emotions and natural chemistry between characters (but slow-burn)
- a sense that this is just a story in Lighter & Princess' world
- good storyline of rebuilding a career after jail time
- good variety of personalities
- fitting OST
- quality production and pacing (k-drama-like)
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6. You Are My Hero
Chinese Drama - 2021, 40 episodes
REWATCHED & FAVORITED in 2022 (originally watched in 2021)
- very natural chemistry between characters
- very mature relationship, no breakup
- good pacing, general feel-good throughout the drama
- contrasting (but not annoying) second and third CP
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7. Definitely Not Today
Chinese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
WATCHED: 2022
- Great pacing and length
- Great cinematography (color balance, framing, cuts, etc.)
- Appropriate music
- Storyline has substance (doesn't feel like wasted time)
- Great chemistry and acting
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8. Dream House
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
WATCHED: 2022
- FL and ML have a strong moral compass (and contrasts with a variety of different "levels" of morality other characters around them have (realistic build of characters in that sense)
- Both ML and FL are smart; they have a mature relationship, no breaks
- Good acting from leads and side characters
- Good pacing
- Witty comedy among the serious drama brings up the mood
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9. Master of My Own
Chinese Drama - 2022, 32 episodes
WATCHED: 2022
- FL is strong underdog
- Unexpected theme of female mentorship without the melodrama
- Good chemistry/acting
- Strong variety of characters
- Well paced, story is more realistic
- *warning* some verbal abuse, particularly in first half
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10. My Super Hero
Chinese Drama - 2022, 37 episodes
WATCHED: 2022
- Witty comedy among the serious, realistic look at the working class
- Realistic ebbs and flows of life (sprints, stagnancies, and slips)
- Good chemistry and acting by leads and side characters
- Quality build of characters with unique and realistic personalities
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11. Love Crossed
Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes
WATCHED: 2021
- Not really any ML & FL misunderstanding
- Unexpected unique storyline
- Good acting & chemistry
- Good length
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12. Moonlight
Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes
WATCHED: 2021
- No major misunderstandings
- FL has a strong but positive personality
- Good acting
- Sabotage doesn't go too far
- Nothing so dramatic that it's unbelievable
- Good length
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13. Party A Who Lives Beside Me
Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes
WATCHED: 2021
- No major misunderstandings, mature relationship
- ML is not cold
- FL is smart and happy-go-lucky
- Ex or SML story is not messy and they find happiness in the end
- comedy is consistent
- good chemistry
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14. The Day of Becoming You
Chinese Drama - 2021, 26 episodes
WATCHED: 2021
- quick-paced
- FL has strong personality
- body switch acting and chemistry is amazing
- body switch is only temporary (and executed the best way)
- Mature relationship
- No sabatoge
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15. To Fly with You
Chinese Drama - 2021, 35 episodes
WATCHED: 2021
- Excitement from sports
- Consistent in comedy and sweetness
- Angst from love triangle is short
- FL is underdog
- Chemistry of main CP really great
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16. Begin Again
Chinese Drama - 2020, 35 episodes
WATCHED: 2020
- Mature relationship
- FL is kickass
- Good time skip (and the baby is 1000% adorable)
- Good OST
- Good acting
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17. Love Is Sweet
Chinese Drama - 2020, 36 episodes
WATCHED: 2020
- Mature relationship
- FL is kickass
- Good business/mystery storyline (predictable but not bad)
- Good length
- Good acting
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18. My Girlfriend
Chinese Drama - 2019, 28 episodes
WATCHED: 2020
- Many cute parts
- Good acting
- Good OST
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19. My Love, Enlighten Me
Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
WATCHED: 2020
- Many cute moments
- Good acting
- Good OST
- Good storyline
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20. My Mowgli Boy
Chinese Drama - 2019, 50 episodes
WATCHED: 2020
- Interesting/unique story (not worth a rewatch but nice story for a first watch)
- Long drama but not bad pacing
- Good acting
- Many side CPs (so many stories)
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21. Accidentally in Love
Chinese Drama - 2018, 30 episodes
WATCHED: 2019
- Funny and light
- FL and strong personality
- Love triangle is not toxic
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22. Go Go Squid!
Chinese Drama - 2019, 41 episodes
WATCHED: 2019
- Many cute scenes
- Concept of teamwork
- Good acting
- Good OST
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23. One Smile Is Very Alluring
Chinese Movie - 2016
WATCHED: 2019
- Good acting (esp Angelababy)
- Good length (condensed version of Love O2O)
- Concept of teamwork
- No misunderstandings
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24. Triad Princess
Taiwanese Drama - 2019, 6 episodes
WATCHED: 2019
- Strong FL character
- Good length (only a few episodes)
- Interesting and funny story
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25. The Big Boss
Chinese Drama - 2017, 18 episodes
WATCHED: 2019 (for Big Boss and Big Boss 2)
- Strong FL character
- Light and funny
- Good OST
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26. Fireworks of My Heart
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
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27. You Are My Lover Friend
Chinese Drama - 2024, 30 episodes
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28. All the Way to the Sun
Chinese Drama - 2023, 36 episodes