MyDramaList MDLv6.7

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  • Last Online: 9 hours ago
  • Gender: Female
  • Location: Brussels, Belgium 🌍
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  • Birthday: January 04
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  • Join Date: January 30, 2023
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Ariane

Brussels, Belgium 🌍

Hi & Welcome everyone!

This is the journey of a socially extroverted INFP-T into Dramaland...


How did this ADDICTION start?

Beginning of September 2022, I hit a major slump on Netflix. Despite an endless list of series and movies on my already huge watchlist, nothing was tempting me.
A few weeks earlier, a friend had recommended a South Korean show called Crash Landing on You. I wasn’t convinced (back then I was almost exclusively a fan of American & European shows) but, knowing her excellent taste, I added that “foreign” title to my watchlist… and just left it there ! 🤦🏻‍♀️😅
At the time, I admit I wasn't really aware of the existence of Asian TV-series (I know, right ?!), let alone that they were SO MANY and that they were called "dramas".  

Pretty soon Netflix's algorithm began recommending other Korean titles and my curiosity finally got the better of me: the very 1st drama I clicked on was "Business Proposal". I don’t remember why I chose that one in particular (its fun quirky trailer maybe?), but what a cultural shock it was!
I was still a little skeptical after that first watch, but definitely intrigued.

That's when I finally decided to watch the now classic Crash Landing On You... and down the rabbit hole I went. Deep. Down. (yup, I even started learning Korean 🤭)
By the way, "Business Proposal" was until recently the ONLY Korean drama I rewatched in its entirety (and re-rated). I absolutely had to reevaluate that first watch a few months -and many Kdramas- later! 

As a "newbie" I quickly realised how late I was to the game.
After just a few weeks I already had waayyyyy too many Kdramas on my never-ending PTW list. So I made myself a promise: NEVER! EVER! watch a show from an Asian country OTHER than South Korea. Adding MORE Asian shows would be completely insane, right?!?
Well... that promise went down the drain a few months later (why am I not surprised?!) as I subscribed to VIKI and watched my very first Taiwanese drama: Lesson in Love. Again, don't ask me why I chose that one specifically but I was hooked!

Soon after, the addicted person I had become joined other streaming platforms, discovered MDL, fantastic podcasts (see list below), and amazing communities on social media.  

Around 10 months after my first Kdrama, I finally watched my very first Chinese series in July 2023, the no-less-famous Hidden Love. And as they say, the rest is history.
And yes, remember when I promised myself I would never watch anything other than Korean shows?!? Yeaaah... 🙄

WHAT do I watch?

At the moment, around 60% of what I watch is still Korean. The rest is roughly 15% Chinese, 15% Japanese, 5% Taiwanese, and 5% Thai.
I like most genres but I'm not a fan of pure Horror 😰 except if mixed with really good comedy, nor am I particularly interested in Anime, even though I enjoyed "The Apothecary Diairies" and "Love Through a Prism".

On a side note, I recently discovered mature -mainly BL manhwas- webtoons (manhwa = Korean manga in full colour) and the rate at which I devoured dramas has therefore decreased a little. Inevitably.
So far, my favourites BL reads are: Spinach Bouquet, Reunion, Melting Point, Pian Pian, BJ Alex, Jinx, Beyond (the) Memories, Gig of the Day/Daily Part-Time Job, The Ghost's Nocturne, 1 to 10, Diamond Dust, Instant Family, 2020, Smyrna and Capri, Blossoms of the White Night, First of Summers, Here U Are, Unsleep...

Although I’m not hyper‑fixated on that specific drama genre, I’ll always enjoy a good romance; whether it’s noona, BL, sweet rom‑coms, or mature/smart melodramas. And I’m definitely a true aficionada of slow‑burn, angsty, yearning‑filled and multi-layered stories with strong character development.😊

WHAT are my favourite tropes?

  • (Real) enemies to lovers

  • Hidden/mistaken/fake or double identities

  • Fake dating/contract relationships/marriages of convenience (before falling in love)

  • Forced cohabitation

  • Smart revenge plots

WHAT do I cringe at?

  • Dead fish / duckface kisses (especially between consenting adults)

  • Love triangles or ex-lover comebacks

  • Lack of communication or miscommunication as the main conflict (or repeated endlessly)

  • Random serial killers in rom-coms

  • Insane makjang storylines & exaggeratedly toxic/screaming characters

  • Infantile FLs (childlike voice & manners, zero brain cells, no backbone, damsel in distress)

  • (White) Truck of Doom. Was there no alternative? Really?

  • Sudden amnesia (or the universal sign that the writer gave up)

Note: the “age gap” and characters’ sexual orientation are never an issue for me. As long as both characters are consenting adults, I couldn’t care less. Same for non‑biological or step siblings in love.
Please don’t drag me into debates about this (or about any kind of celebrity “scandals”). I love dramas, but I can’t stand drama.

HOW do I watch? 

I’m more of a binger kind of watcher. That’s one of the reasons why I rarely start airing shows before all episodes are released. Also, the likelihood of me forgetting what happened the week before is… real 🤦🏻‍♀️

Choosing my next drama is often a struggle because there’s so much I want to watch. My choice can be influenced by MDL feeds, reviews, social media, or podcasts — but in the end, my mood decides...
I’m a total sucker for custom lists, and I especially enjoy browsing the fun and creative lists other MDLers put together. Such great reviews and so much inspo there!

It's usually hard for me to drop a drama. I'm always hopeful the draggy drama will get better by the next episode. It rarely does. Yup, I still struggle with a bit of FOMO ! I'm working on it.  Slowly 😁
If I drop a show, it’s rarely before watching at least 4–5 episodes (for a 16‑episode Kdrama or 8–10 episodes of a 30+ episode Cdrama). I like giving things a fair chance.
I rarely rewatch entire shows. Not because I don’t want to, but time is of the essence here, guys! 😅

I used to watch dramas one at a time, but these days I juggle anywhere between 3 to 7 (non‑airing) shows simultaneously. My current mix usually includes a Chinese fantasy or historical, a modern Korean drama, a Japanese thriller, a Thai BL, an Oldie but Goldie, a variety show… and whatever else fits my mood.
I love combining different genres, story types, and Asian languages — it keeps everything fresh and helps me avoid mixing up plots (my memory isn’t the best 😅). It also gives me the freedom to switch depending on how I feel.
Some dramas take me weeks or even months to finish, while others get binged in 2–3 days.

I cannot watch a show just because I love the actors or because they’re “pretty”. I don’t give passes based on personal bias.
With experience, I’ve also become more cautious of quickly overhyped shows — the “new toy” effect is real and rarely translates into long-term quality.

My personal moral code about Fastforwarding & Dubbing:

  • Fast‑forwarding / speed‑watching? A crime against storytelling. Obviously. 🤭

  • Dubbing? A sacrilege 🙊 An actor’s voice is an essential part of their craft, and I love experiencing performances as they were intended.
    But I fully understand that dubbing can be important for accessibility, and I respect anyone who needs it.

IMPORTANT NOTE: As a viewer, I have a very low tolerance for (unannounced) spoilers.
Over the years, a few inconsiderate posts have completely ruined major plot twists or entire endings for me; including Flower of Evil (2020), Midnight (2021), BlackOut (2024), and more recently Blossoms of Power (2026).
Let’s just say I’m still recovering ! 😤😤😤

I genuinely believe everyone deserves to experience their dramas, at their own pace, without having key moments revealed ahead of time.
So, if you cannot be mindful of other viewers, I will kindly -but firmly- remind you to use the Spoiler Tag. It exists for a reason, to help keep the viewing experience enjoyable for all of us.

Call me "The Spoiler Police"! 😈


HOW do I rate? 

My rating system is based on my own opinion.
I know no drama or film is perfect, but a 10* (or A+) is close to my kind of perfection — emotionally, aesthetically, and technically.
Even though I sometimes rate too generously, I very rarely give a perfect score. And the more I watch, the pickier I naturally become.
* In my very personal and humble opinion, less than a handful of shows a year deserves a 10/10.

I try to rate based on a combination of objective (technical) & subjective criteria:

  • Script & Writing
    (a tight coherent script, smart dialogues and interesting characters' develoment are so important)

  • Direction/Filmmaking
    (framing choices, pacing, transitions, balance between scenes, atmosphere, stylistic coherence, actor direction...)

  • Cinematography/Visual Aesthetics
    (lighting, color palette, special effects' credibility, sets & locations' relevance, costumes & makeup quality...)

  • Editing/Pacing
    (narrative clarity, fluidity/continuity, rythm...)

  • Acting/Chemistry
    (emotional credibility, nuance in performance, character's consistency, cast's overall chemistry...)

  • Sound & Music
    (sound ambience & quality, balance between voices, music & effects, strategic use of silence, emotional & fit original soundtrack...)

  • Context & Intention
    (cultural relevance, respect for genre conventions, innovation, social impact...)

  • Reception & Impact
    (emotional resonance, originality, ability to stay memorable, influence on the audience or the genre...)

  • Overall coherence : Do all these elements work together?

Then I add my own subjective layer: personal emotions & preferences, attachment to characters, sensitivity to the story or the genre,...

Btw, I never rate a drama I haven’t watched AT LEAST half of it. I genuinely don’t understand how someone can evaluate an entire show after only a few episodes.
I would NEVER recommend a drama I scored 7.5 and under.

10★

WOW… UNFORGETTABLE!
A Masterpiece. Spellbinding. Unique. Withdrawal Symptoms. Touched my soul.  (A+)

9 - 9.5★

AMAZING!
GREAT watch. Exciting. Almost flawless. Loved every second.  (A- to A)

8 - 8.5★

GOOD / SOLID
Fun. A few tiny flaws/plotholes but still VERY enjoyable.  (B to B+)

7 - 7.5★

DECENT but NOT impressive.
Very average. Noticeable flaws/plotholes! Some irritating or boring parts. (C+ to B-)

6 - 6.5★

MEH! Barely AVERAGE.
Quite frustrating at times. Major plotholes. Still watchable but VERY flawed. (C- to C)

5 - 5.5★

MEDIOCRE. PASS!
Very disappointing. Barely tolerable. Tested my patience. Struggled to finish. (D)

4 - 4.5★

NOPE! FORGET IT!
It is BAD. Definite WASTE of my time and energy. I should have read a book.

3 - 3.5★

TOXIC. WHAT THE...!?
Pure TRASH ! TERRIBLE to the point of enraging. Just plain torture. 

2 - 2.5★

AWFUL!
Why was this even made?!? Lost brain cells watching it. I should NOT have started this.

1★

UNBEARABLE. This is a CRIME against humanity.
How am I still alive after watching it?

Note: PLEASE don't take my ratings too seriously; this is Delululand, folks! 🙃


Still can't get enough of Asian shows?
Do you wanna HEAR more about Asian dramas?

In no particular order, hereunder are some GREAT PODCASTS SUGGESTIONS (English speaking) on Spotify and their Instagram accounts:

IMPORTANT

Different tastes and viewpoints make MDL interesting and I’m always interested in reading other perspectives, even when they don’t align with mine.

WE ARE ALL ENTITLED TO OUR OWN OPINION AS LONG AS WE REMAIN RESPECTFUL.


If critical comments make you react aggressively and lash out at the person who wrote them, or if you treat low ratings as personal attacks on you or your favorite actor, please move along.
I’m always open to healthy and constructive discussion but I will NEVER tolerate slander and hostility.
And of course, I won’t hesitate to block hateful commenters and report them when necessary.


So, LET'S BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER! ❤️


THANKS for stopping by and making it all the way down here!😉

Don't hesitate to send a Friend Request or message me! 
'The more, the merrier' in Delulu Land, right?

HAPPY WATCHING! 💝


If anyone cares, I'm a Capricorn sun, Sagittarius moon and Lion rising in Western astrology
and a Metal Pig in Chinese astrology.

(LGBTQ+ Supporter 🌈) 

Badges & banners by Rien 

Statistics

215d 13h 2m
ALL TIME
6,146 episodes, 420 shows
2d 9h 26m
ALL TIME
34 movies

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