My 2026 PTW
This is my shortlisted PTW list for the year, the dramas I genuinely plan to watch and experience. I’m usually an impulsive picker and often end up watching something completely different from what I planned, but this year the challenges are keeping me in my lane. This list is my attempt to stay focused on stories that truly interest me.
Let’s see how well I stick to it this time.
2026 Alphabet Drama Challenge -A 27-letter alphabetical challenge, also split into drama, mini drama, and vertical drama categories.
D remaining(Q), S Remaing(V,X,Z)
2026 BACK TO THE PAST WATCH CHALLENGE -The goal is to watch at least two dramas that of past 10 years or older.
Remaining(2018,2016,2014,2013)
Offbeat Watch Challenge-challenge is to step out of the comfort zone and try something out of the ordinary.
https://mydramalist.com/list/LQJjKvv3 ->ultimate guide to lost tomb series
https://mydramalist.com/list/3EExWvn3 for some recommendation of old and other than chinese
Want to watch dramas from other countries as well
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Just Between Lovers 🇰🇷 — two broken people healing together
silent 🇯🇵 — love, communication and letting go
The Midnight Romance in Hagwon 🇰🇷 — adult chemistry
We Made a Beautiful Bouquet 🇯🇵 — realistic love and growing apart
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![100 Days of Deception]()
1. 100 Days of Deception
Korean Drama - 2026, 16 episodes
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![A Little Thing Called First Love]()
2. A Little Thing Called First Love
Chinese Drama - 2019, 36 episodes
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![A Love Other than Yours]()
3. A Love Other than Yours
Korean Drama - 2026, 14 episodes
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![Against the Current]()
4. Against the Current
Chinese Drama - 2026, 47 episodes
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![Arsenal Military Academy]()
5. Arsenal Military Academy
Chinese Drama - 2019, 48 episodes
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![Blossom through the Cloud]()
6. Blossom through the Cloud
Chinese Drama - 2026, 24 episodes
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![Chungking Express]()
7. Chungking Express
Hong Kong Movie - 1994
- Genres: Comedy, Romance, Life, Drama
- Tags: Break Up, Heartbreak, Unrequited Love, Police Department Setting, Hong Kong New Wave, Drug Trafficking, Art House Film, Stalking, Eccentric Female Lead, Eccentric Male Lead
- movie before i was born
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![Cinderella Closet]()
8. Cinderella Closet
Japanese Drama - 2025, 12 episodes
- Genres: Comedy, Romance, Youth, Drama
- Tags: Ex Comes Back, Crossdresser Male Lead, Co-workers' Relationship, City Setting, Waitress Female Lead, Influencer Supporting Character, Make-up Artist Male Lead, Tomboy Female Lead, Young Adult Female Lead, Young Adult Male Lead
- Offbeat Watch Challenge(ML Pretends to be a woman,SML/SFL end up with the lead )
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![City of Streamer]()
9. City of Streamer
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
Genres: Thriller, Historical, Romance, Crime
Tags: Smart Female Lead, Chinese Republican Era, Calm Female Lead, Espionage, Revenge, Older Woman/Younger Man, Student-Teacher Relationship, Conspiracy, Adapted From A Novel, Suspense
Tag: happy ending
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![Doctor on the Edge]()
10. Doctor on the Edge
Korean Drama - 2026, 12 episodes
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![Douluo Continent]()
11. Douluo Continent
Chinese Drama - 2021, 40 episodes
- Genres: Comedy, Romance, Wuxia, Fantasy
- Tags: Teamwork, Fantasy World, Friendship, Xuanhuan, Hardworking Male Lead, Competition, Multiple Couples, Cultivation, Childish Female Lead, Hidden Identity
- 2021 drama with good cast
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![First Love]()
12. First Love
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
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![Handmade Love]()
13. Handmade Love
Korean Drama - 2020, 8 episodes
Tags: Miniseries, Supernatural, Web Series, Healing, Tailor Male Lead, Deity Male Lead, Slight Romance, Advertisement, Flashback To Past, Supernatural Power
Tag:
Happy Ending, Infidelity,Violence
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![Hotel del Luna]()
14. Hotel del Luna
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
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![Joy of Life Season 2]()
15. Joy of Life Season 2
Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes
Tags: Martial Arts, Power Struggle, Transmigration, Eccentric Male Lead, Political, Smart Male Lead, Adapted From A Novel, Political Intrigue, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Historical Sci fi
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![Lady Liberty]()
16. Lady Liberty
Chinese Drama - 2026, 37 episodes
Tags: Office Setting, Writer Male Lead, Editor Female Lead, Indecisive Male Lead, Aggressive Female Lead, Cheerful Male Lead, Business Rivalry, Alcoholism, Teamwork, Infidelity
Tag:Alcoholism
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![Love Destiny]()
17. Love Destiny
Thai Drama - 2018, 15 episodes
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![Love for You]()
18. Love for You
Chinese Drama - 2026, 32 episodes
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![Love in Pavilion]()
19. Love in Pavilion
Chinese Drama - 2025, 36 episodes
Tags: Adapted From A Manhua, Adventure, Action, Fantasy World, Cultivation, Fox Demon, Mask, Xianxia, Immortal, Web Series
Tag:Immortal
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![Moon River]()
20. Moon River
Korean Drama - 2025, 14 episodes
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![MuTeLuv: Love Lock]()
21. MuTeLuv: Love Lock
Thai Drama - 2026, 4 episodes
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![My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday]()
22. My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday
Japanese Movie - 2016
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![Nagatan and Aoto: Ichika's Cook Book]()
23. Nagatan and Aoto: Ichika's Cook Book
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
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![Never-Ending Summer]()
24. Never-Ending Summer
Chinese Drama - 2026, 29 episodes
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![Nevertheless,]()
25. Nevertheless,
Korean Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
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![Nothing but You]()
26. Nothing but You
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
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![Parallel World]()
27. Parallel World
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
Tags: Desert Setting, Badass Female Lead, Adventure, Action, Teamwork, Slow Burn Story, Monster, Conspiracy, Multiple Couples, Amnesia
offbeat
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![People and Meat]()
28. People and Meat
Korean Movie - 2025
Tags: Friendship
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![Perfect Marriage Revenge]()
29. Perfect Marriage Revenge
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
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![Pull Strings]()
30. Pull Strings
Chinese Drama - 2026, 30 episodes
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![Rain or Shine]()
31. Rain or Shine
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
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![Run On]()
32. Run On
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
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![See You at Work Tomorrow!]()
33. See You at Work Tomorrow!
Korean Drama - 2026, 12 episodes
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![She Was Pretty]()
34. She Was Pretty
Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
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![Somewhere Only We Know]()
35. Somewhere Only We Know
Chinese Movie - 2015
Tags: Interracial Relationship, Office Worker Female Lead, Cellist Male Lead, Musician Male Lead, Intercountry Romance, Naive Female Lead, Multi-Generational, Death, Filmed Abroad, Music
Interracial relationship between the leads
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![Sound of Silence]()
36. Sound of Silence
Chinese Movie - 2025
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![Space Sweepers]()
37. Space Sweepers
Korean Movie - 2021
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
- Tags: CGI, Outer Space, Future, Robot, Badass Female Lead, Friendship, Poor Male Lead, Family Relationship, Teamwork, Android
- MDL's 2026 Watch Challenge spot a trip to space
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![Such a Good Love]()
38. Such a Good Love
Chinese Drama - 2025, 26 episodes
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![The Bond]()
39. The Bond
Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes
- Genres: Life, Drama
- Tags: Multiple Mains, Time Skip, 2000s, 1980s, 1970s, 1990s, Adapted From A Novel, Domestic Crime, Violence Against Children, Selfish Parent
- a non romance 2021 drama
- Good Cast
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![The Midnight Romance in Hagwon]()
40. The Midnight Romance in Hagwon
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
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![The Rain in Espana]()
41. The Rain in Espana
Filipino Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
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![The Remarried Empress]()
42. The Remarried Empress
Korean Drama - 2026, 10 episodes
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![Visage and Soul]()
43. Visage and Soul
Chinese Drama - 2026, 24 episodes
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![Weakest Beast]()
44. Weakest Beast
Japanese Drama - 2018, 10 episodes
Tags: Friendship, Clingy Ex, Workplace Setting, Office Setting, Accountant Male Lead, Office Worker Female Lead, Lovers To Friends, Immature Male Lead, Accounting, Slight Comedy
Offbeat: Lovers to friends romance between the leads (tag)
Tag:Infidelity
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![When the Weather Is Fine]()
45. When the Weather Is Fine
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
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![Where Does the Sea Begin]()
46. Where Does the Sea Begin
Japanese Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
Tags: Parenting, Father-Daughter Relationship, Family Relationship, Death, Single Father Male Lead, Separated Family, Mother-Daughter Relationship
Main dynamic is between parent
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![Xiao Fang]()
47. Xiao Fang
Chinese Drama - 2026, 18 episodes
Genres: Psychological, Romance, Drama
Tags: Unexpected Pregnancy, Family Pressure, Herbalist Female Lead, Adapted From A Web Novel, Businesswoman Female Lead, Rural Life, Web Series
Letter:X (long format drama)
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![Your Sunshine]()
48. Your Sunshine
Chinese Drama - 2025, 27 episodes
Genres: Historical, Mystery, Romance
Tags: Blood, Brothers' Relationship, Violence, Criminal Organization, Gun Violence, Death, Gang, Revenge, Crime, Death Of A Sister
Title: Includes Heavenly/Celestial Bodies
