2023 Better CDramas
aka 2023 My Langya List
According to personal preferences, so won't be many romances, unless the story is good. Include Mainland, TW, and HK dramas. Ranked according to quality or expected quality.
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1. The Long Season
Chinese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
One of the highest rated shows in years. Mixes crime with SoL set in the China's Northeast rustbelt. Excellent acting and production. Serious and focused attention required for best enjoyment.
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2. I Am Nobody
Chinese Drama - 2023, 27 episodes
Modern Wuxia pioneer, one of the best manhua adaptations. Hilarious, with tight pacing and solid acting from key characters. Editing, camera work, music, CGI all show far higher level of intentionality and polish compared to most cdramas.
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3. Fake It Till You Make It
Chinese Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
A realistic and profound examination of life and love for the urban professionals in modern China, one of the best romance cdramas. Tight pacing and polished production. While some may not appreciate the workplace segments, others will really appreciate these as they add to the realism and gravity of the drama.
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4. Oh No! Here Comes Trouble
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
Quirky, comedic, and heartwarming. This show has plenty of mystery, heart, family, bromance, and laughs.
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5. Living
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
Highly rated school year SoL comedy
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6. Legend of the Undercover Chef
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
Hilarious wuxia sitcom featuring one of the godfathers of Chinese comedy. Insightful parody and commentary of modern China through its wacky skits.
However the subs are terrible and it doesn't feature young attractive people of idol dramas.
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7. Port of Lies
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
Highly rated TW thriller
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8. The Heart
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
One of the best medical Cdramas in years.
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9. Stand by Me
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
Realistic and profound youth drama that's very different from the typical youth romance.
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10. Ray of Light
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
Another youth drama that doesn't focus on romance but provide an intriguing look at the studies and struggles of students in China.
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11. A Long Way Home
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
Realistic SoL drama focused on the recent periods in the Chinese rustbelt.
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12. There Will Be Ample Time
Chinese Drama - 2023, 36 episodes
Realistic SoL drama revolving around career women in their 30s.
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13. Spy Game
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
Hidden gem. Tight pacing, intriguing dialog, coherent screen logic, and terrific acting from start to finish.
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14. The Lord of Losers Season 2
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Sequel to the whimsical and popular sitcom Lord of Losers.
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15. Burning Years
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
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16. The Knockout
Chinese Drama - 2023, 39 episodes
Early episodes were so good that it had the making of Breaking Bad. But last 3rd of the show tanked hard under the weight of censorship.
Frontrunner for the 2023 NRTA Award -
17. Once and Forever: The Sun Rises
Chinese Drama - 2023, 25 episodes
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18. Ripe Town
Chinese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
Excellent cinematography in this historical mystery crime drama.
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19. Meet Yourself
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
Soothing, realistic, SoL drama with solid acting and production.
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20. Egg and Stone
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Hilarious Wuxia comedy that mostly retains a coherent central plot line.
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21. Village Love Season 15
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
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22. Mysterious Lotus Casebook
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
Solid Wuxia effort that delivers a steady diet of bromance, intrigue, and engaging characters.
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23. The Hope
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
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24. An Ancient Love Song
Chinese Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
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25. Three-Body
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
Better than expected and faithful to the book. Could have been stellar with more budget and less NRTA
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26. Faithful
Chinese Drama - 2023, 25 episodes
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27. At the Moment
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
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28. When I Fly Towards You
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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29. A Journey to Love
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
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30. Imperfect Victim
Chinese Drama - 2023, 29 episodes
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31. Good Guy Good Luck
Chinese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
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32. Thirteen Years of Dust
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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33. The Starry Love
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
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34. Lost You Forever
Chinese Drama - 2023, 39 episodes
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35. The Future Handbook
Chinese Drama - 2023, 7 episodes
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36. The Blood of Youth
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
Premiered at end of 2022, but most episodes aired in 2023.
One of the better manga/anime adaptations. Pacing and CGI was commendable in the early segments. Could have been an 8.0 if the plot and pacing was better in the latter segment of the show. Also many of the younger cast have major room for improvement in their acting. -
37. We Go Fast on Trust
Chinese Drama - 2023, 22 episodes
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38. Fantastic Doctors
Chinese Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
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39. Alliance
Chinese Drama - 2023, 36 episodes
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40. Parallel World
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
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41. Under the Microscope
Chinese Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
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42. Young Blood Season 2
Chinese Drama - 2023, 27 episodes
The more polished sequel to YB1 with much improved acting. But just like YB1, suffers from the lack of focus created by a few plot twists too many.
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43. Copycat Killer
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
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44. South Sea Tomb
Chinese Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
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45. The Lonely Warrior
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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46. The Bionic Life
Chinese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
Decent Scifi effort that benefits from the 'shorter is better' mantra. Though compared to better scifi works, the concept, themes, and execution is rather derivative. Both Song Weilong and Vicki Chen could have played their roles better, but were both serviceable.
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47. As Long As We Are Together
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
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48. The Road to Ordinary
Chinese Drama - 2023, 36 episodes
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49. Be Your Own Light
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
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50. Nothing but You
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
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51. Why Try to Change Me Now
Chinese Drama - 2023, 6 episodes
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52. Fearless Blood
Chinese Drama - 2023, 18 episodes
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53. My Journey to You
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Style and aesthetics over substance?
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54. An Actor's Rhapsody
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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55. The Youth Memories
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
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56. My Uncanny Destiny
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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57. I Belonged to Your World
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
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58. The Ingenious One
Chinese Drama - 2023, 36 episodes
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59. Pledge of Allegiance
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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60. Killing Game
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
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61. Who's Your Daddy?
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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62. Stay with Me
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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63. The Princess and the Werewolf
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
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64. Miles to Go
Chinese Drama - 2023, 37 episodes
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65. Be with You
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Highly rated comedy that's seriously undermined by its acting.
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66. Hi Producer
Chinese Drama - 2023, 35 episodes
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67. Gourmet Affairs
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
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68. The Evidence Tells
Chinese Drama - 2023, 32 episodes
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69. Chase the Truth
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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70. Start Here
Chinese Drama - 2023, 33 episodes
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71. The Forerunner
Chinese Drama - 2023, 32 episodes
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72. My Dearest Friends
Chinese Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
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73. Sweet and Cold
Chinese Drama - 2023, 31 episodes
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74. For the First Time in My Life
Chinese Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
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75. Xing He Ban Shi Cu
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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76. I Know I Love You
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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77. Justice in the Dark
Chinese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
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78. The Forbidden Flower
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes