⭐ MY "WOW" DRAMAS/MOVIES (RATED 10)

➤ Aged like a ripe wine despite it's a 2013 drama.

➤ Thrilling

➤ A different noona romance (no parents or colleagues/friends objections)

➤ Swoon-worthy ML

➤ Funny FL but much prudish

➤ Three-dimensional villain

➤ Great character growth on several characters (ML, FL, SFL, villain). SML although his character is like a saint, somehow seems 2 dimensional (no character growth)

➤ Nice side stories (ML's dad, FL and her mom's backstory, SFL's dad, villain's backstory, ML's friends)

➤ Life messages (also anti-death penalty social message)

➤ Being an 11-year-old drama, the visuals (video quality, costume, makeup, cinematography, etc) are not bothersome. It helps that they wear casual or business clothes (that usually go out of style). Only SFL's costumes and makeup seem outdated because she is stylish with the time period.

➤ HE

➤ Intriguing main mystery

➤ Bromance/friendship is gold. 

➤ Touching backstories of the important characters

➤ No romance

➤ Ding Yu Xi acting as the white cat

➤ Wei Zhe Ming's gray character

➤ Ending: HE, ML, and his squad are alive.

➤ The only negative is the cat CGI

➤ Best sageuk 2024

➤ My review: https://mydramalist.com/profile/ChouNa/reviews/338005 

➤ My review: https://mydramalist.com/profile/ChouNa/reviews/338313

➤ It should have the same rating since the stories are closely related.

➤ Suicide prevention theme. Suicide not only affects people close to you but also strangers.

➤ Superb acting, even in guest roles.

➤ Amazing cinematography and CGI.

➤ It should have the same rating since the stories are closely related.

➤ Suicide prevention theme. Suicide not only affects people close to you but also strangers.

➤ Superb acting, even in guest roles.

➤ Amazing cinematography and CGI.

➤ Intriguing palace politics, smart executions

➤ Good editing interwoven between present and past scenes

➤ Antihero ML and antihero FL make their characters interesting

➤ Many nice characters

➤ Great friendship and loyalty to friends

➤ Perfect ending, although using the modern world with FL novelist writing this story (and ML shows up as her new editor)

➤ The only drawback is super slow-burn romance.

➤ Lots of twists and turns

➤ Amazing chemistry between the main and second couples. 

➤ Good character growth, especially for ML

➤ Great fighting scenes and war choreography

➤ Nice bromance/friendship in ML's army

➤ Artistic scenes of ML and FL

➤ Perfect ending

☆ BEST KOREAN DRAMA 2023

➤ Unique plot

➤ Thrilling and suspenseful

➤ dark comedy

➤ ML and FL funny yet close relationship

➤ Emotional with a lot of touching scenes, especially between ML and FL

➤ Acting of Yoon Kye Sang (ML), Yuna (FL), and Kim Shin Rok (Supporting - ML's ex wife)

☆ BEST FANTASY DRAMA 2023

☆ BEST COMEDY DRAMA 2023 (although there is no Comedy genre)

➤ Great fighting scenes

➤ Quirky characters with character growth

➤ Strong friendship

➤ Amazing CGI

☆ BEST THRILLER DRAMA 2023

☆ BEST ADVENTURE DRAMA 2023

☆ BEST WUXIA 2023

☆ BEST BROMANCE 2023

☆ BEST SUSPENSE DRAMA 2023 - The mystery gradually builds up with a bunch of red herrings to trick viewers who keep guessing about the serial killing.

☆ BEST TIME TRAVEL DRAMA 2023 - The drama keeps the reason the protagonists go back in time until the last episode. There is also healing, forgiveness, and mending broken relationships.

☆ BEST MEDICAL DRAMA 2023

☆ For three seasons the installments keep the fast pacing, action, thrill, humor, characters, and warmth. For three seasons I gave each a 10.

➤ BEST SEQUEL:

➤ Many times S2 dramas are worse than S1 ones, as it's made because of S1's popularity, but the sequel ends up losing its attraction as the audience already knows what to expect. This one is unpredictable and brings in new main characters not from S1. It also successfully built the intensity of the main plot with an all-around HE: all the good guys live and the bad guys die.

➤ Amazing bromance and friendship.

➤ The audience's fave character in S1 gets his HE in S2, alive with a romantic love story.

➤ We get to learn some Korean and Japanese myths and folklore.

➤ Great action scenes with CGI and props.

➤ Amazing cinematography, sets, and costumes.

➤ BEST XIANXIA 2023 (So far). Rare HE: the main couple actually meet again and a kiss in the end, not waiting for the other person's reincarnation.

➤ Enjoyable plot, light-hearted. Some complained that the villains are not too strong, but it's okay for me. No need to throw away something at the villains when they showed up on the screen.

➤ Healthy romance for the main couple and side couples.

➤ ML and FL are so eye candy. Nice ML and FL.

➤ Likable supporting characters.

➤ The CGI is not too bad for the budget.

➤ An odd and unique blend of psychological, supernatural, thriller, comedy, and drama. One of a kind

➤ Endearing main plot (of the main protagonists) and intriguing side stories (the supernatural cases), while leaving room for mysteries along the drama (remaining unexplained/unresolved topics)

➤ Amazing directing (camera angles, shots), script (with a blend of sarcastic comical dialogues and meaningful serious convo), editing, cinematography

➤ Great acting of  Tseng Jing Hua as the main protagonist Pu Yi Yong with line deliveries and facial expressions.

➤ Endearing and intriguing characterization of the main cast and supporting roles, supported by solid acting of the actors.

➤ BEST ADVENTURE/TRAVEL SHOW

➤ Mini review: I hope they will make this kind of show again, Season 2 or something like that. Pairing two actors from different countries who don't know each other and don't speak the other person's language. Yet they can communicate to work together because of their love for their fans and passion for adventure/travel. The places showcased are very beautiful and their fans are adorable. I understand some challenges were obviously staged so they could finally figure out the clues to find their fans, they were all entertaining nonetheless because of the variety of games. And even if Seung Gi and Jasper acted out their reactions etc, they did so naturally and professionally. They sincerely enjoyed being in the show!

➤ Milestone: Birthday 2023

➤ BEST WAR DRAMA

➤ Showing the Japanese side of WW2, without being political only slice-of-life of how the war affected commoners and soldiers.

☆ BEST SECOND-CHANCE ROMANCE

☆ Valentine's Day 2023 drama

☆ BEST LIFE/SLIFE-OF-LIFE DRAMA 2023 so far

☆ Fleshed out characters

☆ Stunning sceneries

☆ Very realistic/natural looking romance

New Year 2023 drama.

What a ride, simply loved it! Less action than S1 because the games are more complicated with the bosses, and need more logical thinking. The rules of the games can be quite complicated I got help from the recap to clarify/remember. Some philosophical/spiritual insights by some characters. 

The logical explanation behind the borderland makes sense. Sweet open ending.

☆ BEST YOUTH DRAMA 2022

☆ BEST MOVIE 2022

☆ Acting, cinematography, setting

☆ 35th Golden Rooster Awards:  Zhu Yi Long (Best Actor, winner), Liu Jiang Jiang (Best Directorial Debut, winner). Nominated: Best Picture, Yang En You (Best Actress), Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Recording.

☆ BEST XIANXIA 2022

☆ BEST romcom first quarter 2022?

☆ Tight script (same writer as Mystic Pop-Up Bar), great chemistry, adorable characters, roller coaster of emotion.

☆ Suicide Awareness using lighter and fantasy approaches.

☆ BEST Casting/Characterization

☆ Suicide Awareness/Prevention by depicting the main character's gradual process that leads her to committing suicide, and long-time effects on people around her even the ones not directly related to her.

☆ BEST drama depicting Thai culture and history in a humorous and romantic way.

☆ (+) WOW Factor = Best documentary film

☆ (+) inspirational; (+) concert: (+) member's childhood and life story; (+) editing

☆ (+) WOW Factor = Best school J-drama

☆ (+) plot; (+) plot twists; (+) suspense; (+) life lessons; (+) sismance; (+) friendship; (+) acting;

☆ (+) WOW Factor = ACTION, CINEMATOGRAPHY

☆ (+) action; (+) acting; (+) cinematography; (+) costume; (+) makeup; (+) OST (bias by OKRock); (-) confusing story unless read the manga or watch anime, need recap help

☆ (+) WOW Factor = Best character growths

☆(+) plot; (+) character growths; (+) eye candies; (+) chemistry; (+) friendship of unlikely; (+) sismance; (+) bromance; (+) costume; (+)props; (+) OST; (-) death of good characters;  (-) comic scenes; (-) rush ending

☆(+) WOW Factor = All around mix action/suspense/comedy/melodrama and full closures

☆ (+) action; (+) fighting scenes; (+) suspense; (+) friendship; (+) cinematography; (+) closures; (-) draggy in the middle; (-) politics

☆ WOW Factor = Adventure

☆ (+) good mix of action, suspense, and comedy; (+) mystery/secret; (+) bromance/friendship; (+) location; (+) cinematography; (+) OST; (-) OE

☆WOW Factor = ACTING

☆ (+) healthy vs unhealthy relationship; (+) OTP strong/steady characterizations; (+) OTP seamless acting; (+) chemistry; (+) friendship; (+) no PPL;  (-) old tropes: mean MIL, obsessive SML and love competitors, (-) mildly rushed ending/time jump

☆ WOW Factor = VFX

☆ (+) action; (+) bromance; (+) cinematography; (+) costume; (+) makeup; (+) CGI

☆WOW Factor = PLOT

☆ (+) martial arts/fighting scenes; (+) acting Sean Xiao as Wei Wu Xian; (+) eye candies; (+) bromance; (+) friendship; (+) cinematography; (+) makeup; (+) costume; (+) OST; (-) draggy

☆WOW Factor = CGI

☆ (+) life lessons; (+) better story as tells the backgrounds of the 3 protectors; (+) dialogue; (+) acting matching the CGI; (+) costume; (+) amazing CGI; (+) S2 the flashback Goryeo dynasty and prehistoric dinosaurs;

☆WOW Factor = CGI

☆ (+) life lessons; (+) dialogue; (+) acting matching the CGI; (+) costume; (+) amazing CGI

☆WOW Factor = MYSTERY

☆ (+) plot and plot twist; (+) secrets revelation; (+) clarification of year/date on scene changes; (+) editing; (+) acting of Johnny Bai; (+) bromance between Jiang Yang, Chen Ming Zhang, and Zhu Wei; (+) friendship of the 'crime' group; (+) transformation of JY, CMZ, and ZW in years/makeup; (-) suicide scene; (-) PPL

☆WOW Factor = PLOT

☆ (+) plot; (+) beautiful ending; (+) 'parody' of Stephen King's Misery; (+) witty dialogue; (+) acting; (+) bromance; (+) chemistry (+) cinematography; (+) OST; (-) SLS; (-) spinning screen; (-) PPL

☆WOW Factor = PLOT

☆(+) fast paced; (+) plot; (+) plot twist; (+) chemistry; (+) cinematography; (+) the sweets;

☆WOW Factor = MYSTERY

☆ (+) story; (+) mystery: unpredictable; (+) dialogue;  (+) acting; (+) chemistry; (+) cinematography; (+) wound/blood makeup/prop; (+) OST; (-) rushed ending

☆WOW Factor = SLICE OF LIFE

☆(+) plot of growing up and growing old; (+) different parents/parenting style; (+) directing (showing facial expressions, changing scenes);  (+) dialogue;(+) the little kids scenes; (+) acting of supporting characters; friendship; (+) chemistry; (+) bromance; (+) sismance; (+) food/cooking; (-) draggy; (-) skipped scenes with annoying side characters; (-) PPL

☆WOW Factor = FRIENDSHIP

☆ (+) the mystery topic; (+) parallel/time travel inside the game glitch; (+) editing/time change 2008/2019; (+) witty dialogue; (+) cartoonish scenes (during rehab rescue; (+) game action scenes; (+) not typical drama MLs (see note below); (+) setting during Xiao Feng's time; (+) chemistry for both; (+) bromance; (+) sismance; (+) supportive characters; (+) game CGI; (-) bad sub; (-) rushed scenes without logical explanation; (-) PPL

☆ Not the 'usual' drama MLs. Xiao Feng is a mid 20's loser, not interested in working or getting married, poor. Lu Xiao Bei is on a wheelchair highschool student, second last position in class.

☆ Check out my first article regarding this drama

☆ WOW Factor = MYSTERY

☆ (+) the mystery topic; (+) plot twist; (+) exposition of every member's powers in each episodes; (+) acting out psychological problems; (+) minimal romance fits for thriller; (+) creepy BGM; (-) plot holes/unanswered questions (S2?); (-) PPL

☆ Slight romance but not the main plot of the story (two main characters already a couple)

☆WOW Factor = CINEMATOGRAPHY (North Korea)

 ☆(+) chemistry; (+) bromance; (+) supporting characters: ML's comrades, villagers; (+) cinematography; (+) setting: recreation of NK (Pyongyang); (+) military and NK prop

☆ WOW Factor = FANTASY

☆ (+) good closures for every crucial characters (FL, ML, hotel crew); (+) cinematography; (+) costume; (+) horror makeup and props; (+) CGI; (+) OST; (-) draggy in some scenes; (-) PPL 

☆WOW Factor = PARALLEL WORLD

☆ (+) compelling story; (+) overall acting; (+) editing;  (+) chemistry; (+) cinematography; (+) cartoon drawing; (+) Lotus Evora, ML's car 

☆ The most compelling villain played by veteran actor Kim Eui Sung 

☆WOW Factor = FANTASY

☆ (+) editing; (+) acting; (+) side stories; (+) life lessons; (+) cinematography; (+) OST; (-) PPL 

☆ All side stories are interesting and do not have a feel of fillers.

☆ Amazing supernatural/fantasy after Goblin. It is interesting that both dramas have actor Yook Sung Jae as one the main roles.

☆WOW Factor = ATYPICAL

☆ (+) unique theme/story on gender inequality/equality; (+) acting; (+) chemistry; (+) cinematography; (-) draggy 

☆ Most unique romance comedy script/plot

☆ Atypical romance comedy

☆WOW Factor = SLICE OF LIFE

☆ (+) realistic life stories; (+) directing; (+) dialogue; (+) editing; (+) acting; (+) friendship; (+) jam session; (+) medical props; (+) OST; (-) some draggy; (-) maggot; (-) PPL 

☆ Not necessarily best in medical genre since the stories depict more of live events.

☆WOW Factor = POLITICS

☆ (+) realistic society issues like wealth discrepancy, poverty, domestic abuse, etc; (+) Producer 's Jackie Chan style; (+) directing/camera; (+) fighting actions; (+) friendship; (+) bromance; (+) cinematography; (+) costume; (+) OST/sound; (-) draggy 

☆ Never a fan of political genre, with the third ambiguous character of powerful Eunuch Wang Zhi, palace politics become more interesting

☆WOW Factor = PLOT (novel by Mao Ni)

☆ (+) plot twists; (+) novel by Mao Ni; (+) witty dialogue; (+) acting; (+) bromance; (+) cinematography; (+) costume; (+) OST; (-) draggy scenes/side stories; (-) makeup too much for men; (-) infidelity/harem 

☆ Another epic adaptation of Mao Ni 's novel. The other one is Ever Night 

☆ WOW Factor = ACTING (doppelganger)

☆ (+) original story; (+) plot twist; (+) not draggy; (+) chemistry; (+) bromance; (+) professional advisor (psychologist); (+) no PPL; (+) extra scene 

☆ The only drama that made me could not sleep thinking about the plot/mystery

☆ Both actress Alice Ke and actor Greg Hsu were able to bring out multi characters of Huang Yu Xuan/Chen Yun Ru and Li Zi Wei/Wang Quan Sheng from different time lines and different situations.

☆WOW Factor = MEDICAL (action/critical medical)

☆ (+) Main story and side stories; (+) Fast paced; (+) Acting; (+) Cinematography; (+) Make-up (blood. wound, bruises); (+) Prop 

☆ Best sequel of a prequel, as usually sequels are not as goos as prequels.

☆WOW Factor = ADAPTATION (The sequence is presented better than the novel)

☆ (+) story; (+) acting; (+) chemistry; (+) cinematography; (+) costume; (+) makeup; (+) OST 

☆ Best adaptation of a historical Chinese novel. 

☆ I read if the drama follows the novel closely, then the sequence is confusing since in the novel the story starts with the second life/world

☆WOW Factor = MEDICAL (action/critical medical)

☆ (+) Fast paced, not draggy; (+) Story and side stories; (+) witty dialogues; (+) Character of Teacher Kim; (+) Acting of Han Seok Kyu as Teacher Kim; (+) Casting; (+) Chemistry; (+) Cinematography; (+) Makeup (wound, blood); (+) Prop; (+) Lighting; (-) Unrealistic medical practice 

☆WOW Factor = PLOT (novel by Mao Ni)

☆ (+) Fighting scenes; (+) Tang Academy; (+) Ep 40-41: showdown of grand priests for Sang Sang; (+) Chemistry; (+) Bromance Ning Que with Chao Xiao Shu, Chen Pi Pi; (+) Wei Guang Ming and Sang Sang; (+) Cinematography; (+) OST; (+) Location Xinjiang and Guizhou; (-) Draggy 

☆ Author Mao Ni 's epic work. Another one is Joy of Life 

☆ Unfortunately Ever Night: Season 2 could not adapt the continuation of the novel spectacularly to become an epic sequel.

☆WOW Factor = ACTING(main actress Zhou Dong Yu and main actor Jackson Yi)

☆(+) Realistic story on school bullying; (+) Directing; (+) Acting of FL and ML; (+) Cinematography - noir (+) OST 

☆ The way actress Zhou Dong Yu and actor Jackson Yi just looked at each other gave me goosebumps

☆WOW factor = PLOT (Melodrama)

☆(+) Directing (award winning director); (+) Screenwriting/dialogues; (+) Editing; (+) Flashbacks not excessive/redundant; (+) Recycled scenes from the past done right; (+) Chemistry; (+) Interesting type of ML saving FL with campus court; (+); (+) Starlet Xiao Le; (+) Father figure: Lawyer Lin; (+) Funny village people; (+) Heartbreaking love confession from SML to FL; (+) Father and son bond; (+) Secrets revealed in the end; (+) Cute ending/kidnapping; (-) Creepy stepdad; (-) FL is a compulsive liar though done for defense mechanism/ survival 

☆ Best child actor Benny Wen who played as character Xiao Le, the son of the main characters. I don't think other countries can remake this drama due to his acting.

☆ WOW factor = PRODUCTION (cinematography, costume, makeup, props)

☆(+) action-packed; (+) not draggy, many subplots; (+) beautiful heart-breaking scenes, for ex: Xie Liang Chen seeing her portrait  with Huang Song or the last scene flower girl opening her notebook; (+) anti-cliches: for example girls either save themselves or save the guys instead of the other way around; (+) lots of eye candies; (+) Casting; (+) Acting of Bai Lu as a man; (+) badass female characters both protagonists and antagonists; (+) chemistry; (+) bromance; (+) hot-tempered and narcistic Gu Yan Zhen and Qu Man Ting; (+) Xie Liang Chen runs back and forth between the academy and the school; (+) lots of characters become heroes/heroines in some point of the drama; (+) location: Hengdian World Studios; (+) cinematography; (+) costume; (-) some unrealistic scenes probably due to censor or editing; (-) censors on romantic scenes between Gu Yang Zhen and Xie Liang Chen 

☆ Chinese Republican Era is presented beautifully through the costume, makeup, cinematography, and props in this drama.

☆ My first Chinese Republican Era that gave me interest on other C-dramas from this era.

☆WOW Factor = CHARACTERIZATION (The seven personalities and great acting by Ji Sung)

☆ (+) Masterpiece; (+) Not draggy; (+) Character of Shin Se Gi and Ah Yo Na; (+) Acting of Ji Sung; (-) Childish FL 

☆ Never a fan of psychological/healing drama, the mental health issue of Dissociative Identityty Disorder is brought wonderfully by the actor.

☆WOW Factor = PLOT Interesting substories connect with each other)

☆ (+) Brilliant storyline; (+) Editing; (+) Many stories but not draggy; (+) Screenwriting; (+) Witty dialogues; (+) Perfect casting; (+) Cinematography; (+) OST 

☆ All side stories are interesting and do not have a feel of fillers.