2019
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1. Your House Helper
Korean Drama - 2018, 32 episodes
This was a calm drama to watch. No real mystery. But a modern take on the Korean everyday life style. I enjoyed the down play of urban life. Yet, it showed the struggles of what a busy Korean woman goes through in the working world. Also it was good to see the main lead who is in usually macho roles to be just someone who finds himself at peace cleaning up after others. I'm not sure I was all that happy between the two main leads. I felt he was too old for her. I would have liked it if it had continued to be plutonic. Although, in a K-drama the romance never really goes too far. It was good to see at least an LGBT character in this drama. Although, we never get a good story from this back burner character. This really hit a lot of everyday issues, ever so subtle that I doubt many got the meaning of.
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2. Witch's Love
Korean Drama - 2018, 12 episodes
Such a hit and miss kind of drama. I watched it anyway..cause I love the 3 main characters cast. Anyway, she was pretty stupid for a witch. It was a tangled back story. And they might have unknowingly been first loves. If I had written this story, the two love interests would have been long lost siblings and she was of fallen for the comicbook guy. End of story.
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3. The Whirlwind Girl
Chinese Drama - 2015, 32 episodes
Awesome storyline. Sad ending. Yes, its a case of basically the work husband who can't let go and an orphan girl with a warped reality of who she should be serving. Will she ever figure it out? With 3 guys swooning over this pollyanna Chinese girl who has a whirlwind kick she hardly ever uses. Now you are asking yourself, why would I watch this? Its got a lot of friendship, teamwork going for it. Although, the miserable grudges that come along with it. Heart-wrenching. And Yang Yang before the drama Love020. Although, he's rather stoic. Nothing like his Peter Pan performance in Universal Arts. Great supporting besties, too. And if you love this sport, it's there for you!
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4. Imaginary Cat
Korean Drama - 2015, 8 episodes
OMG, I loved watching the main character with the Cat. Nothing like watching a guy with a cat. Guess, I am a cat lover, after all. It was sad though. Loved the cat's personality. It might have been nice if he met someone with the cat's soul. I know, that's pushing it. But it was sweet. A story with a lot of heart. This was a romance where the cat leads the way. Enough said.
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5. Love O2O
Chinese Drama - 2016, 30 episodes
It delivered a realm of fantasy and reality. And there was Yang Yang to adore. But his usual stoic self. Although, he had everything the Chinese male is known for. Perhaps a quiet lover, too. Um, left lots to the imagination. Great cast. Too many stories to even touch on. I did like the fact of a gay storyline, but it wasn't touched on..exactly. Still, let a lot for the imagination..so the fanfiction could begin. Yet, in reality from the words she referred the main lead as..like "My Lord" one had to wonder if that was really appropriate for the times we live in now. Gotta wonder...but I watched it anyway.
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6. Lightning
Chinese Drama - 2017, 31 episodes
I dunno what happened to me, but I binged this one so hard! Loved the cast. Lots of twist and turns. Such great leads. Although, I found out later, in reality, one of them had hurt his ex, really bad. I just couldn't believe it. If only he could have been more like his character, he would have never done that. In spite of it being a sports story along with past grudges, this Chinese drama had a lot of the Chinese male myth going for it. Where the male would always protect his woman. Cook for her, etc. Honestly, I did love this drama.
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7. Mary Stayed Out All Night
Korean Drama - 2010, 16 episodes
Its an oldie but goodie to behold. Loved the cast and storyline. Naturally, it has its old Korean nature about it with much flaw of parenting and misunderstanding. Still, a modern tale of two young people living together, struggling to make their dreams come true and barely living on a dime, squatting somewhere cool and quaint. Naturally, they have rich people wanting them. In spite of plans of marriage..did it really matter in the end. They were going to be bohemian, anyway. Priceless. Yeap, I fell in love with this one.
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8. Befriend
Taiwanese Drama - 2018, 24 episodes
OMG..my all time favorite drama of 2018. Loved this story so much. Such a modern urban tale. I couldn't help but fall in love with the main character and it was easy to see how the female and male lead fell in love with him too. Although, I would have preferred if he'd gone with the rich guy. Still, I like the fact that he would be living on love, instead. Always the hope in that. Awesome cast. Loved the quirky tales that they knew of those in the neighborhood. It was a unique drama. I don't think I've seen another like it. Honestly, I love the ordinary being extraordinary. No one had any super powers.
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9. The Starry Night, the Starry Sea
Chinese Drama - 2017, 32 episodes
There has to be something said about William Feng's presences..especially when he's sporting his real hair. Still..don't get mixed up with Merman..it can get really depressing. This drama had a lot of fun and silly moments. Yet, there were dangerous moments too. And, unexpected villains. The atmosphere was delightful with the sea, the beach, where the main character dwelled. I just wish the female lead could have been as eloquent as he was. Yet, I guess it never hurts to be the third lead...you might just get the girl in the supporting leads. Beware for the second lead, you might find yourself pulling out all the stops to be a super-villain before the end. Not sure I really want to take on the remix of the second one. It's like the writers were thinking..hmm..there has to be more than one way to tell this dreadful story how two people can never be a normal couple, but can still love each other without making lip contact.
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10. Pretty Li Hui Zhen
Chinese Drama - 2017, 46 episodes
Definitely binge-worthy! I had seen the Korean version, but I liked this one much better. I love the friendship between roommates. I love the bromance. I love he reconnecting. The awareness of inner beauty. The energy in the workplace. This one has more episodes, but it's worth it!
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11. Youth
Chinese Drama - 2018, 26 episodes
I loved the Korean version, but I loved this one just as much. Great cast! Great backdrop! Cool music. This cast of girls really made the characters their own. I hope they do a second season.
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12. The Fiery Priest
Korean Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
I finally finished the Fiery Priest last night. I really love the soundtrack to this drama. I had no idea I would like this drama since it's so different. But I really loved the quirky supporting cast in this one. The guy with the bobbed haircut, the delivery guy on the scooter, and of course, the young priest..to name a few. The ending was splendid, too.
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13. Children of Nobody
Korean Drama - 2018, 32 episodes
Best drama of 2019! Love LYK in this. So glad to see his serious side for a change. Great story. Great mystery. N was great in this one, too.
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14. The Whirlwind Girl Season 2
Chinese Drama - 2016, 36 episodes
I kept watching hoping it would get better. I dunno..I'm beginning to think B was just too old school. Still, it bothered me a coach and a students relationship..which I guess the drama ended the way it did. Still, some rather greedy people in this drama. But Guo Fiction was probably the shining star in this one!
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15. Eulachacha Waikiki Season 2
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
Some good laughs. WYK knows how to work it. Some priceless moments from outfits to interesting skits. I hope there will be another one.
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16. My True Friend
Chinese Drama - 2019, 48 episodes
My favorite drama so far this year! Loved the cast. Some wonderful positive storylines that you never see very often. Wonderful cast!
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17. Flipped
Chinese Drama - 2018, 24 episodes
This Chinese drama had so much going for it. Great exteriors and interiors. A beautiful cast. Yet it fell short on story. You couldn't decide if the bad guys were really bad. It was a complicated story and the back story should have come sooner. Still, I liked the ending.
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18. Doctor Prisoner
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
WOW! Such great performances! Such a seasoned cast. No romance here. So glad I had the opportunity to watch it!
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19. The Lost Tomb
Chinese Drama - 2015, 10 episodes
OK, I had to go back to the beginning. This didn't have that many episodes. It felt it had a beginning..the tomb... a flash back story and a strange ending. It left a lot of mystery in this one. Of course, Yang Yang's character was like a video player kind of character (he seems to get that a lot in his dramas lately) & I wanted to know more about him. Still flaky plot and a bit H. P Lovecraft!
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20. Watcher
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
It was full of all sorts of twists and turns. Great cast. Cool writing. So many bad guys! & I want a season 2! One of my favorite dramas of 2019!
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21. Go Go Squid!
Chinese Drama - 2019, 41 episodes
I dunno if I loved it. Many things I did like about the drama. Still, it was slow in places, and E entertainment doesn't really have that much drama. Still they writers made the most of it with fangirls, unplanned families and kids who still act like kids when they are grownups. I love Yan Zhi and she makes her lead always look good. There were times though, I wanted to root for the geeky guy she went to college with... who probably knew her best, but they almost made him creepy in the end. There were a few characters I felt were wasted in this drama, but it was cute.
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22. HIStory3: Trapped
Taiwanese Special - 2019, 20 episodes
Awesome storyline. Loved the main couple and the side couple as well. This really had an excellent plot. Very character driven. I loved the way the two main characters revenge converged. Loved it!
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23. HIStory3: Make Our Days Count
Taiwanese Special - 2019, 20 episodes
OMG..my favorite drama of 2019! Sweet storyline. Awesome cast! Heartfelt. Moving! Sure the ending was sad, but real!
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24. Kuzu no Honkai
Japanese Drama - 2017, 12 episodes
OK, this had to be the strangest drama I watched. Oddly sexy and yet I wasn't that happy with the way it ended. I mean, it was as if nothing of importance of the two main character. True, they were high schooler who might have found each other when both were so depressed. Still, it was quite a ride in this short drama. If you want strange and sexy, this is the drama for you.
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25. My Mowgli Boy
Chinese Drama - 2019, 50 episodes
OK, I pretty much binged it when it was on. I couldn't wait for the next episode. I felt though something was a little off, though. Although, it felt the character grew during the duration of this drama. Of course, I loved the side couples and feel they need a second season. Not sure about the main leads. I loved the soundtrack, the bromances. Even how the good brother turns bad then back to good. Oh, it was such a great start...but then the last 10 episodes got a little much and strange diseases and. I dunno..I gave it a 10 but I so hated the last episode. Still I wish for another season because I love the supporting characters so much!
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26. Dive
Chinese Drama - 2019, 30 episodes
I dunno why I really liked it. I just kept watching it. I guess it was a bromance, but not really. It seemed pretty good with the special effects of diving until the latter episodes. I was a little upset with the one guy from Thailand and how he treated the girl he liked to eat with who was his manager. It was a little confusing, but so was the romance with the other diver and this dancer from a rich family that he met on campus. It felt like these guys never really went to class. Then, there was the Thailand segment. It was like they squandered time just getting to the end. And yeah, I would certainly watch that Thailand actor again. Here's hoping he makes more dramas and actually gets a real romance.
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27. The Tale of Nokdu
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
Oh, what an epic tale! Who would have thunk it..crossdressing and a period piece. But it worked! Loved the cast. Awesome story of troubled times and very strange nobles. I just couldn't get enough of this one. Widows having their own village. A bad guy who could cook up meals for a little tike. And staring one of the most beautiful boys out there..and I didn't even know it until I saw him in this!