Their official Youtube playlist is... super confusing.... why are some episodes in ascending order and other episodes in descending order? Some episodes are over an hour long and some at 15 minutes? No one else had a problem with this?
Glad you liked it, and keep following it I guess to see what people add, so far dramas best binged all at once…
I noticed that too! Thought that was interesting I'm curious to see the results of that list. I did add Bad Buddy already but I'm probably going to come back to the list at some point when I think of another show.
For me, Old Fashion Cupcake was one of those dramas I wish I had binged, not because I couldn't wait every week, but because the second to last episode left such a bitter taste in my mouth that it affected how I felt about the show overall. I know that if I had binged it, that negative feeling would have lasted a short amount of time because I'd be swept into the next episode right away, but instead it left a longer impression :(
But there are definitely dramas (and moods) that require a slower watching pace. Idk how writers do it, but sometimes they write episodes in a way that leave you satisfied enough by the end of each episode that you don't feel compelled to watch the next one right away, but you also want to keep watching it. An impressive skill! Bad Buddy for example was a drama I wished I had watched on-going because I never really felt the urge to binge it more than two episodes at a time. Watching it with everyone else when it was airing live would have been a great way to pace myself
Thanks Shiro! Fun article! Gives me tons to think about. I'm curious about the results of the voting lists!
I'm not too familiar with Cantonese, but it sounds a bit different than I'm used to. Is that because it's using an older style (like how saeguks tend to speak differently from modern setting dramas) or do I just not have the ear for Cantonese yet? Please let me know!
Nirvana in Fire is a masterpiece. A perfect example of a context-heavy political drama. For those who love the genre, this is a great pic. It's an exploration of the Art of War, a classic text, and even in the strategic way of revealing plot points, it reflects elements of the text.
Reply 1988 is another masterpiece. Not everyone likes the humor, which is very abrasive, but it is still skillfully written with a clear mastery of tropes within the romance genre.
The Untamed is not a masterpiece, but it is very good. Definitely believe it deserves a high rating. It does an excellent job of exploring the nature of good and evil, and in criticizing unquestioning loyalty. Lots of great foils to create a dynamic exploration of its major theme.
Reset, although predictable, somehow managed to keep my interest. It also was able to make a groundhog day story work in a multi-episode format. To me, that requires a lot of skill, so I def think it deserves to be on this list.
The Story of Ming Lan is another political drama. What I loved about it was how unconventional our FL is. She is not a fire cracker who is strong but a damsel, or some other major trope. She's quiet, patient, and unrelenting in her ruthlessness, all with a gentle smile. I also really appreciated the extremely detailed set and costume design, and insight into the time period.
Eternal Love gets it because it's the one that got me to try xianxia. The soundtrack is absolutely gorgeous, and I love the way they developed the magic system to have rules instead of just being "magic!" Has a ton of flaws, but I think it deserves a high rating.
It's Okay, That's Love I cannot explain since it's been too long since I watched it and my memory is poor but it is very good.
1 Litre of Tears is a classic that has maintained top status on MDL since 2004 for a reason. A powerful story told with a lot of heart.
I feel like I need to explain myself so here goes:
Double - use of framing, foreshadowing, misdirection, I mean there is just so much that is done well when it comes to the craft of creating a visual story. It's also about the film industry so it's fun in that way too
Koi Desu - I chose this one because I think they do some really interesting things visually when it comes to hitting some comedic notes with dramatic flare. Plus it's just charming.
Ikebukuro West Gate Park - Narratively a well developed story with themes introduced early in a way that feels chaotic, but come together nicely to emphasize major plot points. Also liked that this was a bit daring in a lot of ways. Enjoyed the messy camera work
Honorable Mention: Ase to Sekkan - Purely for its creativity. It's otherwise not that interesting
woow wth im really loving this so far. didn't really know what I was getting into but this was right up my alley.
if u like stories about feuds, weird shit, wholesome moments, friendship, and fighting, this might be your thing. even when i could predict some of the plot twists, this was still fun and smart. it has a lot of heart to it as well. also absolutely loved the soundtrack.
Issei I love you. Watching him in guest roles is even exciting. Didn't realize he was in Ikebukuru Park but immediately smiled once I saw him there ^_^
10 
43 
2 
1 
But there are definitely dramas (and moods) that require a slower watching pace. Idk how writers do it, but sometimes they write episodes in a way that leave you satisfied enough by the end of each episode that you don't feel compelled to watch the next one right away, but you also want to keep watching it. An impressive skill! Bad Buddy for example was a drama I wished I had watched on-going because I never really felt the urge to binge it more than two episodes at a time. Watching it with everyone else when it was airing live would have been a great way to pace myself
Thanks Shiro! Fun article! Gives me tons to think about. I'm curious about the results of the voting lists!
Oh My Ghost in the first half (restaurant industry)
Jealousy Incarnate throughout the show (news casting)
Reply 1988 is another masterpiece. Not everyone likes the humor, which is very abrasive, but it is still skillfully written with a clear mastery of tropes within the romance genre.
The Untamed is not a masterpiece, but it is very good. Definitely believe it deserves a high rating. It does an excellent job of exploring the nature of good and evil, and in criticizing unquestioning loyalty. Lots of great foils to create a dynamic exploration of its major theme.
Reset, although predictable, somehow managed to keep my interest. It also was able to make a groundhog day story work in a multi-episode format. To me, that requires a lot of skill, so I def think it deserves to be on this list.
The Story of Ming Lan is another political drama. What I loved about it was how unconventional our FL is. She is not a fire cracker who is strong but a damsel, or some other major trope. She's quiet, patient, and unrelenting in her ruthlessness, all with a gentle smile. I also really appreciated the extremely detailed set and costume design, and insight into the time period.
Eternal Love gets it because it's the one that got me to try xianxia. The soundtrack is absolutely gorgeous, and I love the way they developed the magic system to have rules instead of just being "magic!" Has a ton of flaws, but I think it deserves a high rating.
It's Okay, That's Love I cannot explain since it's been too long since I watched it and my memory is poor but it is very good.
1 Litre of Tears is a classic that has maintained top status on MDL since 2004 for a reason. A powerful story told with a lot of heart.
Double - use of framing, foreshadowing, misdirection, I mean there is just so much that is done well when it comes to the craft of creating a visual story. It's also about the film industry so it's fun in that way too
Koi Desu - I chose this one because I think they do some really interesting things visually when it comes to hitting some comedic notes with dramatic flare. Plus it's just charming.
Ikebukuro West Gate Park - Narratively a well developed story with themes introduced early in a way that feels chaotic, but come together nicely to emphasize major plot points. Also liked that this was a bit daring in a lot of ways. Enjoyed the messy camera work
Honorable Mention: Ase to Sekkan - Purely for its creativity. It's otherwise not that interesting
if u like stories about feuds, weird shit, wholesome moments, friendship, and fighting, this might be your thing. even when i could predict some of the plot twists, this was still fun and smart. it has a lot of heart to it as well. also absolutely loved the soundtrack.