Top 5 Dramas (Annual List)

WATCHED: 2025

• Great acting
• No loose ends; very complete ending, and no questions left unanswered. Even though the culprits were obvious, it was still engaging to find out the stories and reasons
• Story was paced well

WATCHED: 2025

• fantasy without significant holes in logic (on the fantasy part)
• great acting from main and side characters
• good mix of classic Taiwanese seriousness/heartfeltness and comedy

WATCHED: 2025

• funny LOL scenes every episode
• strong relationship after they are together
• good pacing/length with the various mini-plots/side-characters

WATCHED: 2024

• unique storyline
• fantasy portion does not overpower the reality portion (to the point where you need to give up logic to understand)

WATCHED: 2024

• both ML and FL start catching feelings around the same time (it's not one long-term secret admirer)
• ML and FL close long-term friendship is very apparent through the storytelling and chemistry (as viewers, you feel that they have more memories than whatever is shown on screen)
• both side CPs have very different dynamics (one married with a child where they mostly operate as a unit, one unlikely but budding with common interests)
• no toxicity in any CPs

WATCHED: 2024

WATCHED: 2024

WATCHED: 2023

• consistent LOLs in the first half or so
• not a typical school drama...FL isn't head over heels into ML just because of his well-roundness
• both ML and FL have doubts at some point in their relationship but they bounce back
• there are points in time when FL is trying and times when ML is trying to repair their relationship
• good acting and chemistry

WATCHED: 2023

• ML and FL are both career driven king & queeeeen
• mature relationship once they start dating
• realistic friendship of three girlies supporting each other through thick and thin: even though at some points they are more distant from each other, in the end they are always there for each other
• [spoiler] SML + SFL relationship of rich husband and stay-at-home wife where they are loyal to each other through thick and thin
• great acting from all of the main cast

WATCHED: 2023

• mature relationship, non-cringe flirting, no breakup
• realistic and unique personalities of all characters, personal growth visible
• FL's and ML's job position is appropriate for years worked (both are high achievers, not some fresh grad that is a VP)
• sensible story
• well paced and consistent, general feel-good
• fitting OST
• quality production (like a Taiwanese movie)

WATCHED: 2023

• amazing chemistry and OST
• consistent pacing
• no chunk of episodes that are particularly frustrating
• both ML and FL are smart and independent

WATCHED: 2023

• deep emotions and natural chemistry between characters (but slow-burn)
• a sense that this is just a story in Lighter & Princess' world
• good storyline of rebuilding a career after jail time
• good variety of personalities
• fitting OST
• quality production and pacing (k-drama-like)

REWATCHED & FAVORITED in 2022 (originally watched in 2021)

• very natural chemistry between characters
• very mature relationship, no breakup
• good pacing, general feel-good throughout the drama
• contrasting (but not annoying) second and third CP

WATCHED: 2022

• Great pacing and length
• Great cinematography (color balance, framing, cuts, etc.)
• Appropriate music
• Storyline has substance (doesn't feel like wasted time)
• Great chemistry and acting

WATCHED: 2022

• FL and ML have a strong moral compass (and contrasts with a variety of different "levels" of morality other characters around them have (realistic build of characters in that sense)
• Both ML and FL are smart; they have a mature relationship, no breaks
• Good acting from leads and side characters
• Good pacing
• Witty comedy among the serious drama brings up the mood

WATCHED: 2022

• FL is strong underdog
• Unexpected theme of female mentorship without the melodrama
• Good chemistry/acting
• Strong variety of characters
• Well paced, story is more realistic
• *warning* some verbal abuse, particularly in first half

WATCHED: 2022

• Witty comedy among the serious, realistic look at the working class
• Realistic ebbs and flows of life (sprints, stagnancies, and slips)
• Good chemistry and acting by leads and side characters
• Quality build of characters with unique and realistic personalities

WATCHED: 2021

• Not really any  ML & FL misunderstanding
• Unexpected unique storyline
• Good acting & chemistry
• Good length

WATCHED: 2021

• No major misunderstandings
• FL has a strong but positive personality
• Good acting
• Sabotage doesn't go too far
• Nothing so dramatic that it's unbelievable
• Good length

WATCHED: 2021

• No major misunderstandings, mature relationship
• ML is not cold
• FL is smart and happy-go-lucky
• Ex or SML story is not messy and they find happiness in the end
• comedy is consistent
• good chemistry

WATCHED: 2021

• quick-paced
• FL has strong personality
• body switch acting and chemistry is amazing
• body switch is only temporary (and executed the best way)
• Mature relationship
• No sabatoge

WATCHED: 2021

• Excitement from sports
• Consistent in comedy and sweetness
• Angst from love triangle is short
• FL is underdog
• Chemistry of main CP really great

WATCHED: 2020

• Mature relationship
• FL is kickass
• Good time skip  (and the baby is 1000% adorable)
• Good OST
• Good acting

WATCHED: 2020

• Mature relationship
• FL is kickass
• Good business/mystery storyline (predictable but not bad)
• Good length
• Good acting

WATCHED: 2020

• Many cute parts
• Good acting
• Good OST

WATCHED: 2020

• Many cute moments
• Good acting
• Good OST
• Good storyline

WATCHED: 2020

• Interesting/unique story (not worth a rewatch but nice story for a first watch)
• Long drama but not bad pacing
• Good acting
• Many side CPs (so many stories)

WATCHED: 2019

• Funny and light
• FL and strong personality
• Love triangle is not toxic

WATCHED: 2019

• Many cute scenes
• Concept of teamwork
• Good acting
• Good OST

WATCHED: 2019

• Good acting (esp Angelababy)
• Good length (condensed version of Love O2O)
• Concept of teamwork
• No misunderstandings

WATCHED: 2019

• Strong FL character
• Good length (only a few episodes)
• Interesting and funny story

WATCHED: 2019 (for Big Boss and Big Boss 2)

• Strong FL character
• Light and funny
• Good OST