Shows I Watched: May 2025

Status: Dropped

Year:  2025

Country: Korean

Genre: contemporary, romance

Episodes:  7/10

Plot:

As an heir to a conglomerate, competing with his cousin to earn three stars, our ML steals recipes from lesser-known restaurants. He meets our FL, a chef at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant who is passionate about food. She refuses the ML, the ML gets into a scandal, hiding his identity, and he works closely with the FL, waiting to create opportunities for a comeback.

Comments:

• I know the leads are good and I have enjoyed their performances in some dramas, but I don't watch the drama just for them
• I think there is a lot of wasted opportunity for a really cute love story and a deeper personal growth; I'm not sure if they went to Japan to film a plot that isn't necessary. I think our FL deserved a better backstory.

Status: Dropped

Year:  2025

Country: Korean

Genre: contemporary romance

Episodes:  6/12

Plot:

After breaking her engagement after her fiancé had cheated on her, she was transferred to the countryside

Comments:

• I don't think the story and the characters appealed to me, mainly because I don't drink.

Status: Dropped

Year:  2025

Country: Chinese

Genre: period, idol, romance

Episodes:  15/30

Plot:

The head of the prominent Ming family marries the Prince of Dongbei to keep others from using her family name to shield them from corruption.

Comments:

• The production quality is so cheap. And they should think about lowering the brightness and not skin-smoothing the shit out of the leads.
• IDK if the FL can't act, or the skin smoothing just erased her expressions. 

Status: Dropped

Year: 2025

Country: Korean

Genre: makjang, daily

Episodes: 122/126

Plot:

A talented interior designer finds out her husband is cheating on her with her former high school nemesis. 

Comments:

• It was fun till it got ridiculous.

Status: Completed

Year: 1999

Country: Japanese

Genre: contemporary, thriller, romance

Episodes: 11/11

Plot:

A murder occurs that causes an insurance investigator and the police to investigate a woman whose fiancés have all died.

Rating:  9.5/10

Comments:

• I think this is my 3rd time watching this drama. And I watch so many dramas, and I'm also sleep-deprived. I also have a memory of a goldfish, as this drama's mystery and twists get me every time.
• I still have an issue with how the cop got his wife pregnant, like that is not necessary, why do you have to do it?
• Peak Takenouchi Yutaka and Matsushima Nanako both delivered nuanced performances that no one else could have played those roles and have the chemistry they've.

Status: Completed

Year: 2022

Country: Japanese

Genre: mystery, slice of life

Episodes: 10/10

Plot:

The ML's girlfriend goes missing, and with the suggestion of people around him, he starts searching for his girlfriend and finds out things he didn't know about her.

Rating:  8.5/10

Comments:

• wanted to watch it when it came out, but struggled to find English subs, then forgot about it.
• It is slow, slice of life, and it's pretty unique. It would depend on whether the mystery was worth it to watch it till the end, because it is a slice of life with random happenings in the ML's life.
• Has a unique format with performances of songs that are relevant to the episode.

Status: On Hold (rewatch)

Year: 2016

Country: Japanese

Genre: mystery

Episodes: 2/10

Plot:

It's an iteration of the Sherlock Holmes and Watson story and dynamic. A criminologist and a mystery novel writer assist the police in solving crimes.

Rating:  8/10

Comments:

• Even though the mystery is not groundbreaking, they are fun to watch. You watch this because of the two leads (eye candy) + their landlady and their chemistry. 
• Other dramas took priority.

Status: Completed

Year: 2024

Country: Thai

Genre: period, romance

Episodes: 19/19

Plot:

A love story between a rich heiress and a widowed poor judge.

Rating:  8.5/10

Comments:

• This is my guilty pleasure. The writing is shallow, the storytelling style can be very over the top.
• I watch it for the chemistry.
• Probably won't be the last time I'll watch this this year.

Status: Completed

Year: 2025

Country: Chinese

Genre: contemporary, slice of life

Episodes: 24/24

Plot:

Tells the story of two friends who have been best friends who are friends since college, but their dynamic is more of frenemies. And a new edition, an aspiring actress who shakes up their lives/ friendship.

Rating:  7/10

Comments:

• I loved like realistic nature of their friendship.
• I don't think Michelle Chen's acting meshes with me.
• I hate the breaking of the 4th wall.

Status: Completed

Year: 2025

Country: Korean

Genre: historical, mystery, revenge

Episodes: 11/11

Plot:

The long-lost son of a prominent merchant family returns. Is he an impostor, or is he real?

Rating:  8/10

Comments:

• I loved the dynamic between the parents' generation (Uhm Ji Won and Park Byung Eun); it's not a love story, but man, their scenes together are intense and keep you engaged.
• 
  
• I know the leads have hardcore fans, but I am not one of them. I think they did well. And I know that SML syndrome, I did not get it.
• IDK if I bought the romance, I have watched a step (not really) sibling romance, and I get convinced for most of them, but not this one. Maybe it's because they were not given enough time to develop it, and it felt kind of forced.

Status: Completed

Year: 2025

Country: Chinese

Genre: costume, idol, romance

Episodes: 36/36

Plot:

The FL and the ML have a blood feud, but are arranged to marry to put their bad blood behind them and for a political alliance.

Rating:  10/10

Comments:

• Loved it. Will watch it again. 
• Great production values.
• Song Zuer is one of my favorite actresses, I hope she gets a successful comeback (cast for a new high-quality drama). She pulled off the character well, very different from the one that aired earlier (The Demon Hunter's Romance)
• Lui Yi Ning was perfect in the role. And I don't like people hating on the drama for his looks.
• Great production quality for an idol costume drama.
• I loved the ending. RIP Wei Liang, but someone had to die, and they chose him.

Status: Completed

Year: 2025

Country: Korean

Genre: reality, game, variety show

Episodes: 12/12

Plot:

The contestants live, dine, and sleep while playing high IQ games to win prize money.

Rating:  2/10

Comments:

• I was looking forward to it because I enjoyed the first season. I don't understand most of the games, but I don't skip them (at least most of them)
• This season was so underwhelming, mostly because there is no story, not just for the winner but for most of the participants.
• Maybe it's because I watch a lot of American reality survival shows that I was surprised that Hyun Gyu was hated so much.

Status: Currently Watching

Year: 2025

Country: Chinese

Genre: costume, revenge

Episodes: 28/40

Plot:

The ML is set to kill the person responsible for the massacre of his entire family.

Rating:  8.5/10

Comments:

• Good production quality.
• Xiao Zhan looks great.
• I wish they styled the FL better.
• It is not as gripping as I thought it would be, because I think we know the back story of the ML, and the twists are nothing new.

Status: Currently Watching

Year: 2025

Country: Japanese

Genre: period, romance

Episodes: 3/10

Plot:

Tells the story of the newlywed life of a navy officer and a shy regular girl.

Rating:  8/10

Comments:

• I wish it were more cinematic....
• The leads look cute together.

Status: Currently Watching

Year: 2025

Country: Chinese

Genre: youth, coming of age, romance

Episodes: 4/30

Plot:

Childhood friends who go to high school together contemplate life after high school, personal growth, and romance.

Rating:  8.5/10

Comments:

• IDK how this got past me. 
• It's too early for me to judge.
• Very cute and distinct group of friends.

Status: Currently Watching

Year: 2025

Country: Korean

Genre: weekend, mid-range romance

Episodes: 34/50

Plot:

A widow inherits her husband's makgeolli business and maintains a sisterly relationship with her 4 brother-in-laws. She meets a fellow widow and hotel conglomerate owner and falls in love.

Rating:  7/10

Comments:

• It's not a stressful drama that is over the top.
• Love some of the couples: the main lead, the professor and the student, the youngest brother and the hotel owner's daughter, but the rest IDC.