Under the Microscope (2023)

Obsessive ML characters, a common theme of wanting justice (in different ways), both are period/costume mystery/judicial dramas, not a lot of predictible romance (of any type), good side-kicks to the main characters.

Also, great casts in both dramas, and very good production values.

Both are historical shows with complex plots, smart main characters, and a great attention to detail.

This might seem a bit far-fetched, but this Korean movie also deals with issues about good governance and the difficult choices officials were faced with. For history buffs!

Same Ming Dynasty setting, it tells a story about an austistic Shuai Jia Mo, who is obsessed with mathematics, stumbles upon a historical problem in Jinhua County, he's met with multiple obstacles in his attempts to correct the mistake, triggering a tension between various stakeholders.

• Both revolve around the Ming Dynasty
• Both are investigation dramas
• Smart MLs
• Adapted from a novel

I recommend because of the same author “Ma Bo Yong” ,the king of investigation novels. If you like TLDICA, you’d probably like this drama too. The acting performances and cinematography are stellar .

Zhang Ruoyun is in both set pieces as ML, Genius ML in both Joy of Life and this one, Wu Gang as support role alongside Ruoyun, Wang Yang as the second ML Second time alongside Ruoyun. And both are historical daramas.