Drama Watchlist of 2022

What I liked: Comfort drama for sure. It's very simple in plot, not too angst heavy and just the right amount of action for Wuxia lovers. 

What I didn't like: It's great to be outspoken and strong but the FL had her moments where I saw plenty of immaturity. 

Recommend: Yes! This drama has left an imprint on my heart and I think it's a must for romance lovers. 

What I liked: I liked the acting + the chemistry felt pretty natural. I'm usually not into dramas that have one of the leads as a doctor but I enjoyed this one. 

Recommend: If you need a good rom/com, pick this one up! It has a similar vibe to Touch Your Heart.

What I liked: I loved the chemistry and I was impressed by the acting between Xu Kai and Bai Lu. 

What I didn't like: I wasn't crazy about Bai Lu's character, Zhao Yao and how she treated the ML up until the time skip. 

Recommend: Yes! If you enjoy both actors, I'd say this drama was worth the watch and the happy ending. There are some editing issues with episodes and the FL isn't as likeable in the beginning but I didn't regret watching. 

What I liked: I loved The Long Ballad hands down. I loved the sisterly bond between the FL and secondary lead, I loved the chemistry between the FL and ML and I loved the martial arts scenes. I'm not crazy about revenge plots but I was interested and looked forward to EVERY episode in TLB.

What I disliked: There wasn't enough romantic scenes between the couple. + the manhua/comic like scenes.

Recommend: Yes! What are you waiting for?

What I liked: The acting was pretty profund for this drama. 

What I disliked: The story. I'm a romantic at heart so this story is a bit too heartwrenching for me. 

Recommend: Maybe? But definitely not for romance lovers. 

What I liked: The comedy! This drama was very lighthearted and funny. I was guaranteed a laugh while watching. 

What I didn't like: The amount of misunderstandings + draggyness towards the end of the drama. 

Recommend: Yes! This drama was popular for a reason. While it does give me a similar feel to What's Wrong with Secretary Kim, I liked this drama way more. 

What I liked: I liked that this drama was a coming of age that comes full circle at the end of the drama. The ending also made me cry happy tears because our leads get their HEA. 

What I didn't like: The Love triangles in this drama were ridiculously long. 90% of the drama is the FL's love and pining for the SML and the entire time the ML loves only the FL.

Recommend: Maybe. There were some aspects I loved about this drama in terms of the romance such as the innocent moments between the FL & ML but I wasn't crazy about the FL chasing after unrequited love for majority of the entire drama. 

What I liked: The sizzling chemistry between the ML & FL. I also really liked the ML as a character. He was very playful but also serious about his love for the FL.

What I disliked: There wasn't much martial arts from the ML like I was expecting and the villains + cases get pretty boring. 

Recommend: Yes! If you're looking for a romance that's easy to watch, this one is it. 

What I Liked: Cheng Yi's acting + the chemistry between the FL & ML. I also loved the relationship the FL had with her reunited sister towards the end. 

What I disliked: The ending for the FL.  

Recommend: Maybe. If there's actors in here that you're are interested in, it may be worth giving it a go. 

What I Liked: The OST. 

What I Disliked: I felt like the FL took her time in figuring out who she wanted to be with in a way that hurt the ML and the viewers watching. I wanted her to understand what she wanted instead of playing the field with both until she figured it out. 

Recommend: Not really. I liked that I was introduced to Gina Jin in this drama but I don't think I could recommend this romance to anyone. 

What I liked: The cases! The way the ML told the story and took control of figuring out cases were very interesting. It kept me on my toes and I didn't find it predictable.  I also loved the bromance. 

What I disliked: The romance! There isn't much but what is there isn't really up to par with other romance dramas I've watched. I didn't feel like I understood the pull the leads had to each other. 

Recommend: Yes!!

What I liked: How easy-going this drama is. There isn't much angst, drama or villaintry in the story so it makes for a relaxing watch about food and love. 

What I disliked: Being that it's such a relaxing drama, it can get boring after a while with so many episodes. 

Recommend: Only if you're in the mood for a lighter show with little to no complicated drama. 

What I liked: I really liked the FL's attitude and the ML's strength. I feel like they had amazing chemistry and that the story is easy and lighthearted enough to follow. 

What I disliked: While I liked how confident the FL was and how she seemed to know what she wanted/could go for it, The FL could also be pretty arrogant at times.

Recommend: Yes! 

What I Liked: The chemistry! This drama has my favorite drama couple that I've encountered this year. The FL was my absolute favorite character as she always stood up for what she believed in. 

What I disliked: The last couple of episodes towards the ending. Although the ending was happy, I felt like they put too much angst towards the end resulting in a rushed few minutes of happiness at the last episode. 

Recommend: Yes!

What I Liked: I liked how innocent Mi Ka was and I loved how protective the ML was over her and how willing he was to make their relationship work. 

What I disliked: The main couple is so seemingly perfect that after a while the story gets a bit plain and boring. I liked the path to getting them together but after they did, I felt pretty tired of the story.  The secondary characters were never my cup of tea, I don't think they were a good match. 

Recommend: It wasn't my favorite drama of the year but it does feature one of the cutest couples I’ve seen in dramaland. May be worth giving it a go if you’re a fan of romance! 

What I Liked: The chemistry, the romance and the path to reuniting the leads. 

What I disliked: The secondary couple and how dramatic their relationship was. 

Recommend: Yes!

What I liked: I liked how the cases were portrayed through autopsies. When Chu-Chu would re-enact the scenes, I thought that was pretty cool. I also loved Chu-Chu as a character. 

What I disliked: The cases. I wasn't interested in them at all. I tried but there wasn't any that was particuarly grabbing me. I also didn't like that there wasn't much romance involved either. 

Recommend: Not really. I can understand why others may have liked/enjoyed this drama but it just wasn't my cup of tea in plot or romance. 

What I Liked: There weren't really any misunderstandings or problems that caused the relationship between the leads to fail. I also loved that they stuck with each other throughout the drama. 

What I disliked: The main villain. I felt like with so much preparation into his character, he should've been a bigger fight in the last episode. 

Recommend: Yes!

What I Liked: I was able to laugh a couple times when watching this drama. 

What I disliked: The chemistry! It was lacking severely and I desperately was hoping it'd get better but it didn't. 

Recommend: No, I don't think I could recommend. 

What I liked: The maturity that the leads had in their relationship. It's a slowburn but I enjoyed a realistic approach at a second chance at love in this drama. 

What I disliked: The amount of aerospace scenes. I know/understand it was his the ML's job and vital to his story but I wasn't interested in those scenes so unfortunately I disliked them. 

Recommend: Yes, if you can handle the aerospace scenes/Yu Tu's career. 

What I Liked: The plot. I found it interesting that a woman was taking the place of her twin brother as king. 

What I disliked: How draggy the plot became towards reaching the ending. I had to take multiple pauses when watching this.

Recommend: Yes! It does get draggy after about episode 12, but there is interesting plot and obvious chemistry between the leads. 

What I Liked: The CGI, The lore and the acting were on point for me while watching this drama. 

What I disliked: Too many love lines for the FL. I wish they only focused on one because the story has more than enough plot that we shouldn't need so many characters falling for the FL. 

Recommend: Yes!! 

What I Liked: I liked the chemistry between the leads and I also loved seeing them get & stay together. 

What I disliked: The problems with communication and the obsessive SML. 

Recommend: Yes! 

What I Liked: The acting + the OST. 

What I disliked: How much captivity plays a role in 85% of the drama and lack of character progression. 

Recommend: Pass

What I Liked: The acting + the OST. 

What I disliked: How much captivity plays a role in 85% of the drama and lack of character progression. 

Recommend: Pass

What I Liked: I LOVED the acting, the wadrobe, the OST and the chemistry between the leads, it felt magical.

What I disliked: The rushed ending. 

Recommend: Yes!

What I Liked: Cheng Yi's acting and roles as more than one character. The adventure in the mortal arc and watching the leads fall for each other again.

What I disliked: The ending + predictable villains. 

Recommend: Yes!

What I Liked: Cheng Yi's acting and roles as more than one character. The adventure in the mortal arc and watching the leads fall for each other again.

What I disliked: The ending + predictable villains. 

Recommend: Yes!

Dropped: I was excited for a Wuxia drama with Xing Fei as lead but this drama moves too slow for me in pacing. I also felt like the ML (Lin Feng) played by Yu Meng Long is very wooden when acting so it's hard for me to connect and find chemistry between the two.

It also doesn't help that I'm not a fan of love triangles. 

Indefinite Hold: I'm really not into the acting + dubbing voices in this one but I want to give it a chance for Zhao Lu Si. 

On Hold: There's nothing wrong with the story per say, I'm very interested in the plot. However, I kept this drama on hold for so long because I was watching it with a friend and now I'm not sure when I'll pick it back up. 

I love IU though! I never had the courage to watch this drama because I've heard about the ending but hopefully 2022 is my year to finish. 

On Hold: I'm not too crazy about the FL's character. It's too child like for my liking. 

What I liked: The strong female characters built into the story! From Niao Niao’s born leader archetype to femalechildren standing up for themselves, I was in awe of how the women were being portrayed in part 1. 

What I disliked: The slow burn of Niao Niao moving onto the ML. I knew there was going to be a slowburn but I wasn’t crazy about how long Young Luo was with Niao Niao. 

Recommend: Yes! If not for the amazing acting then for the interesting plot and attention to detail. 

Everything that I mentioned in the part 1 note! + in part 2 the story gets even better. 

What I liked: The story was interesting. I've seen similar robot stories before but I felt like this one went a different route than those and I was interested to see how it'd end. 

What I disliked: The pacing. It felt too slow and I started losing interest in the story. 

What I liked: The ML's character was unlike anything I could've expected and I loved it. 

What I disliked: Some of the side stories weren't as interesting. I guess dramas featuring more than one couple are not my favorite. 

Dropped!