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Vertical Short Drama

bubblylynnn
 Scout:

hey so, my question is what exactly you're looking for in a drama? Fantasy? Romance? Like, what other than not being too absurdly unrealistic are you looking for?

Honestly genre-wise I have no requirements. Anything is fine. I just came across five in a row where the female lead is always somehow pregnant with the male lead's child, and then they marry almost immediately after he finds out, etc... Or they divorce and then the male lead suddenly realizes he needs her so tries to win her back or whatnot. I get that it's a short watch like 2.5 hours in general, but I don't think I like the whole "falling for her so soon" trope anymore after binge watching a few this weekend, and all of them feeling like the same drama with different cast. I want a smarter female lead with maybe an enemies to lovers cliche, since that has the leads falling in love a lot later than the others... or something with some exciting factors also, not just 100% storybook writing if that makes sense.

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Scout
 bubblylynnn:

Honestly genre-wise I have no requirements. Anything is fine. I just came across five in a row where the female lead is always somehow pregnant with the male lead's child, and then they marry almost immediately after he finds out, etc... Or they divorce and then the male lead suddenly realizes he needs her so tries to win her back or whatnot. I get that it's a short watch like 2.5 hours in general, but I don't think I like the whole "falling for her so soon" trope anymore after binge watching a few this weekend, and all of them feeling like the same drama with different cast. I want a smarter female lead with maybe an enemies to lovers cliche, since that has the leads falling in love a lot later than the others... or something with some exciting factors also, not just 100% storybook writing if that makes sense.

Give a few of these a try and lmk what you think :) 


https://youtu.be/s1Du7lgzYSA?si=kbwBB5IhZwADE5_A

https://youtu.be/ubmtR2pTk0w?si=vBtC2sgT36MdEIbE

https://youtu.be/zYRterBAMNY?si=_ftmIA8NR6rp7uov

https://youtu.be/qoMzRNbeyfk?si=W5C6DP5xgROSd6qq

https://youtu.be/q4ZLH5cVWZU?si=TteTl95NP1TdAIs2

https://youtu.be/ISHczeyHWJA?si=PHXjfeCNN_XkMFoa

https://youtu.be/5iOf_oXrbkE?si=c0iSetxeoZmcbfj3


This one is more of a revenge story where the ML is in love with her rather than the other way around though they do have that early marriage, the story is done right at least lol https://youtu.be/DcunbSIFiL0?si=385jRdZwtW1C5UTD

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Scout
 bubblylynnn:

Honestly genre-wise I have no requirements. Anything is fine. I just came across five in a row where the female lead is always somehow pregnant with the male lead's child, and then they marry almost immediately after he finds out, etc... Or they divorce and then the male lead suddenly realizes he needs her so tries to win her back or whatnot. I get that it's a short watch like 2.5 hours in general, but I don't think I like the whole "falling for her so soon" trope anymore after binge watching a few this weekend, and all of them feeling like the same drama with different cast. I want a smarter female lead with maybe an enemies to lovers cliche, since that has the leads falling in love a lot later than the others... or something with some exciting factors also, not just 100% storybook writing if that makes sense.

Oh then there's this one in the apocalypse so that was a wildly different story IMO https://youtu.be/m8fTQC4QFTc?si=gelgW_sCSUpVgQ87

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Scout
 bubblylynnn:

Honestly genre-wise I have no requirements. Anything is fine. I just came across five in a row where the female lead is always somehow pregnant with the male lead's child, and then they marry almost immediately after he finds out, etc... Or they divorce and then the male lead suddenly realizes he needs her so tries to win her back or whatnot. I get that it's a short watch like 2.5 hours in general, but I don't think I like the whole "falling for her so soon" trope anymore after binge watching a few this weekend, and all of them feeling like the same drama with different cast. I want a smarter female lead with maybe an enemies to lovers cliche, since that has the leads falling in love a lot later than the others... or something with some exciting factors also, not just 100% storybook writing if that makes sense.

A really good revenge drama Abyssal Gardenia - kisskh 

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autumn iris
 bubblylynnn:

Very new to vertical dramas... and I binged a handful of them this weekend. BUT I'm already getting a bit tired of watching the same themes and plots. Any unique ones that are still cliche and fun but maybe a TAD bit more realistic LOL thank youuu

Different from you, I love something out of this world; something like mind reading, or transmigration with system. reborn+revenge+redemption, green tea husband/henpecked husband, and supernatural beings/immortals.

There's so many vertical drama without mdl links so...

Maybe:

  • Bottom Power Struggles - palace drama, think of Story of Yanxi Palace, where a palace maid ends up becoming noble consort
  • Du Xin Lao Gong You Dian Tian - maybe the pioneer of vegetative husband and gold digger substitute wife
  • He Wants to Rob - marry the uncle of the 'cheating' fiancee with the longest duration iirc
  • Her Little Balloon Flower (wow, Wang Yi Ran's new photo looks so handsome) - redemption drama, like love born from the gratitude from the past live, I really like this version
  • Love Yourself More - rational youth drama, almost perfect
  • Make You Mine - sugar baby I bring home is a prince planning to become a monk, amongst my early watch so it stays in my happy memory
  • Xun Ye (There's season 2 and 3 with totally different story from S1 so you can skip or watch both S2+S3 ) - sugar baby I sleep with is a rich heir, I love that Wang Xiao Yi always choose this kind of coolheaded and independent character

You could also check previous recommendation posted in this forums.

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autumn iris

Adding some more since I get some inspirations, but these titles are pretty popular, so maybe you already watch them:

https://reelxia.com/drama/GS - human trafficking victim back to society with human trafficking perpetrators and initiators, the victims, the indifferents, the descendants of the victims with the buyers, people with their prejudices against the victims, and kind people (hope of humanity)

https://reelxia.com/drama/Pr - past political hostage prince back to his royal life with psychological wounds meets and plans to bully the money-grubbing pauper who has the face of his tormenter/bully/past dynasty's princess it's like a circle of sandbags

https://reelxia.com/drama/Yl - a girl who's on a breakup vacation ends up being a rental girlfriend to annoy a boy's relatives but ends up being the "savior" of his family

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9ub1r2

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9ub1r4

- a transmigrated woman wants to rely on her children rather than his husband so she make a careful and meticulous plan for her husband's concubines and children, hoping to toss her husband to the future concubine his husband will bring according to original story best from Liu Xiao Xu in my very own opinion

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xa08tc8

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xa08tca

- a transmigrated woman changed the original's way of living to avoid revenge from the amnesiac man the original hit in a car accident whom she hides, lying to him that they're boyfriend and girlfriend

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Taz-mania
 bubblylynnn:

Very new to vertical dramas... and I binged a handful of them this weekend. BUT I'm already getting a bit tired of watching the same themes and plots. Any unique ones that are still cliche and fun but maybe a TAD bit more realistic LOL thank youuu

Welcome to the wonderful world of Vertical Dramas! A sampling of dramas that I have enjoyed from some of the better known vertical drama actors (for MDL pages see Jwells spoiler comments usually at bottom of page for youtube or other links):

Wang Ge Ge

https://kisskh.at/763315-mei-gui-guan-mian

https://kisskh.at/777099-luring-the-divine-to-descend

Chen Si (republican era)

https://kisskh.at/789362-shao-shuai-ni-bie-guo-fen-ye

Wang Yi Ran

https://kisskh.at/788908-ta-de-xiao-jie-geng

Bai Fang Wen (Jiao Pei Kai)

https://kisskh.at/789080-jiao-ying

Ke Chun

https://kisskh.at/785702-hao-yi-ge-guai-guai-nv

Ka Rong (Zhang Bai Yun)

https://kisskh.at/785092-gentle-wild-bone

Yao Guan Yu

https://kisskh.at/785874-gong-ni-lan-qing-kong

Liu Lan Bo (the french kiss drama)

https://kisskh.at/789764-reborn-in-your-embrace

Wang Nan

https://kisskh.at/793672-guai-guai-ru-ju-jiao-si-da-lao-wu-bu-di-tou

Zeng Hui & Han Yu Tong (a dating couple, but do appear in dramas with other leads)

https://kisskh.at/779692-prince-of-beijing-circle

https://kisskh.at/800024-just-to-possess-you

Regent, He Fights and Grabs (historical)

https://kisskh.at/802056-shan-you-mu-xi-mu-you-zhi

Zhang Chi (my personal favorite vertical drama)

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xa2g2k2

Li Meng Ran

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9zcq3i

Cao Tian Kai (Mr Abs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8Km3IPfzuQ

Liang Si Wei

https://kisskh.at/796770-take-away-love-with-a-knife

Lin Yong Ju (scheming male lead)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pONYmKo3yUo

Ma Xiao Yu (Tibet road trip!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yLoeIx5QhQ

Zhu Yi Wei & Bai Xin Yi (married couple usually only appear in dramas together)

https://kisskh.at/793314-hello-baby

https://kisskh.at/785096-humbly-expressing

Shen Hao Nan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj6Vz694XfI

Huang Hao Wen

https://kisskh.at/804876-xin-hun-man-re

Cheng Cheng

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9z7zgq

He Cong Rui

https://kisskh.at/794850-nian-nian-you-ci

Dong Yi

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9xko38 

Zhang Yun Tao

https://kisskh.at/789374-zui-wen-ye-zhi-jing-zhi-yu-ye

He Jian Qi 

https://kisskh.at/773601-shen-qing-you-yin

     see this drama for conclusion of He Jian Qi drama and for his brother's romance (Liu Xiao Xu)

https://kisskh.at/801402-summer-rose

MDL rating system - Vertical drama ratings seem to run 1 point below full length dramas. Accordingly, most are rated in the 7s with very, very few being rated above an 8. I generally don't watch any vertical dramas rated below 7. 

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Taz-mania

Two fun romances, each starring the same purse! (a Hermes Himalayas - definitely can't be product placement at their prices) I've seen several dresses in different dramas that look to be the same, but this is a first for a handbag. Also, I think almost all vertical dramas show the same hospital and skyline. 

Mr. Ke, Your Little Wife Is Pretending To be Unfamiliar 

Feng Yi Yang & Wu Yi Chun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ee9mLnQ7lA

Mr. Lu, You've Been Tricked By Your Wife Again

Sun Yi Xun & Dong Yue Yu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSSSv4ycbVw

Auction guide to Hermes Himalayan

https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/complete-guide-to-the-hermes-himalayan

https://madisonavenuecouture.com/collections/hermes-himalaya-collection

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ASTER Author

Forced to marry rigid CEO for my sis, he warned no love, yet later he begged me not to leave 

She wed theCEO in sister's place,thinking she's just a substitute,but he cherished her like treasure - YouTube 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyN3bbVMHZk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxwTo-ElKZ4


Male Lead: Wang Xingwei ♥️

Female Lead: Huang Yunyun ♥️

Drama Title: Three Meals and Good Times

nice drama, wholesome love between couple .

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Scout
 Taz-mania:

Two fun romances, each starring the same purse! (a Hermes Himalayas - definitely can't be product placement at their prices) I've seen several dresses in different dramas that look to be the same, but this is a first for a handbag. Also, I think almost all vertical dramas show the same hospital and skyline. 

Mr. Ke, Your Little Wife Is Pretending To be Unfamiliar 

Feng Yi Yang & Wu Yi Chun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ee9mLnQ7lA

Mr. Lu, You've Been Tricked By Your Wife Again

Sun Yi Xun & Dong Yue Yu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSSSv4ycbVw

Auction guide to Hermes Himalayan

https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/complete-guide-to-the-hermes-himalayan

https://madisonavenuecouture.com/collections/hermes-himalaya-collection

The product placement statement is crazy because actually the Chinese short drama industry has brough in billions for luxury brands. Don't underestimate good product placement, lol. It's entertainments companies that be watching these dramas. 

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Journalist
 Taz-mania:
Zhang Chi (my personal favorite vertical drama)

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xa2g2k2

With such strong recommendation I had to try it ^^  really liked it, too! 

The plot & cinematography was nice, the lead couple had good chemistry. 

I especially liked  the way the script dealt with disability, one of the best I've seen from China. Apart from the unrealistic ending where he was perfectly fine after an operation, it was pretty close to reality, even other people with disability played a part. The FL wasn't using him for financial gain etc. or mistreating him, the wheelchair wasn't used as a "fake" to test people's character. Would't have expected that from a VD.

Do you know if it's already on MDL? On dailymotioon the title was "This Winter Solstice"

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Taz-mania
 Journalist:

With such strong recommendation I had to try it ^^  really liked it, too! 

The plot & cinematography was nice, the lead couple had good chemistry. 

I especially liked  the way the script dealt with disability, one of the best I've seen from China. Apart from the unrealistic ending where he was perfectly fine after an operation, it was pretty close to reality, even other people with disability played a part. The FL wasn't using him for financial gain etc. or mistreating him, the wheelchair wasn't used as a "fake" to test people's character. Would't have expected that from a VD.

Deo you know if it's already on MDL? On dailymotioon the title was "This Winter Solstice"

No it unfortunately hasn't yet been added to MDL - it's a very recent drama and it seems to take months for dramas to get added. I think all of the youtube copies of this drama were removed the day the drama was released so I was thrilled that there were still dailymotion copies available.

Its Chinese title is 那年冬至 (Nà Nián Dōng Zhì ) (That Winter Solstice)

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autumn iris

Oh yeah, republican drama ofc, my top 7:


https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9o8f8q

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9o8g2y

https://kisskh.at/792436-ye-gui-han

My very first Wang Pei Yan 💓 and Zeng Hui's drama, no romance, supernatural


https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9uie9q

Espionage in short drama, impressive but  bad ending


https://reelxia.com/drama/13q

https://kisskh.at/797792-long-zhong-zhi-chen

It's old, but somehow being uploaded in reelxia recently, reborn and changing husband with sister


https://kisskh.at/799076-shao-shui-mei-tian-du-zai-chi-cu

Seems like this one is hard to search outside iQIYI, there's bilibili but well, not everyone could open bilibili link, transmigrated to a (green tea ML) young marshal's wife


https://reelxia.com/drama/N1

The latest work of Han Yu Tong + Zeng Hui (iirc), mafia x law enforcer, but there's child bride background. Zeng Hui is the original green tea husband? He belongs to the title


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gbIALVczroE&pp=ygUM6Z2S6Z2S5a2Q6KG_0gcJCdsKAYcqIYzv#

https://kisskh.at/786638-qing-qing-zi-jin

Quite impressive imo, but pseudo incest


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tI07_S1vuCk

Stay on my mind, like https://kisskh.at/793672-guai-guai-ru-ju-jiao-si-da-lao-wu-bu-di-tou in republican era

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spacecat99
 ASTER:

Fiancé weds another & makes her a concubine! He begs as she's Empress! 


 She is what you truly call a strong woman. Not even a single tear after discovering her ML’s betrayal, and no regret either. She didn’t bow down she stood firm and used her assets and resources wisely. Unlike other dramas where the FL, despite being powerful, ends up acting helpless and getting bullied. From beginning to end, it’s all about her dominance and presence. Really a good drama. 

This looks really good!! Watching tonight. Thanks for the find.

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spacecat99

WOW!  @Scout , @autumn iris  , @Taz-mania  this is such a great and impressive list of drama  recommendations. About half were already on my fav's list and some were new to me! Thank you friends. 

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