My Fav CDramas

As a young billiards protégés meets an introverted snooker legend who has left the sport, both find direction and purpose amidst a snowstorm of love.

Look up ‘slow burn’ and ‘sexual tension’ in the dictionary and this show will appear. It is quiet, like the snow and its main characters. But that is what I love about it. My ultimate comfort rewatch. Netflix. 

A childhood crush stays hidden, until it’s not.

The excellence of the acting and writing makes this friends to lovers romance one of the most heartfelt Chinese dramas of all time. Netflix

A wrong side of the tracks man meets his princess and their gravitational pull toward each other never fades, despite differences and setbacks.

Another comfort rewatch for me. Their chemistry is just undeniable. Not on Netflix in the US despite what MDL says

Slice of life romance between a fish out of water city girl and a local man promoting cultural tourism.

The cultural emersion in this drama truly shined and didn’t compete with the romance or story. The side stories only enriched the vibe of this low stress drama.

Apples and oranges personalities don’t stop an eccentric author and an editor from falling in love on the trip of a lifetime.

This drama was a breath of fresh air in dramaland. Great romance and beautiful scenery. You’ll either love it or hate it.

Two people get closer as they are forced to take on a life or death time loop together.

An overworked woman with migraines meets a traditional Chinese medicine doctor and they find love.

Sweet, low-stress drama with a lot of interest behind the scenes about TCM.

In the dark underbelly of a small town, two young people find that they can survive on love thanks to the arrival of a mailbox.

As innovative as it was familiar, and as beautiful as it was brutal. I loved the way they filmed this drama and the performances are wonderful.

In the sewers of Taiwan, two young people find and protect each other.

There are no better days in this movie. It’s dark, but it is still one of the most uplifting pieces of cinema I’ve ever scene. Beautifully filmed and acted.

A determined young man is scouted by a beautiful, older woman and together they overcome prejudices in sport and society. 

Romantic and enjoyable. This drama also had one of the better second couple pairings and the whole ensemble cast was great.

Through virtual and actual reality, two architects with different reasons to draw boundaries, create open space for love.

One of the best portrayals of modern romance, healthy communication and boundary setting by female characters. More of this in cdrama!

Surprisingly bright, beautiful and mature romance between a funeral director and a medical saleswoman who has a prosthetic leg.  Despite knowing each other as youths, the pair reconnect as adults and unpack the prejudices that shape each of their lives.

Another fascinating slice of life drama. Right away you are swept up in the vibrant landscapes, cultural practices and family life of China. A great mix of big city and small town life. It’s not always light and fluffy but the complex characters and romance amongst the backdrop of death is beautiful

Second chance romance between a successful business woman and a police man.

My notes from this drama say “if a man was ever written by a woman, this is it.’ ?  Slow in parts, but sweet and cozy winter vibes.

My notes say ‘it would’ve been a 10 except for his hair and how much I fast forwarded.’ On Prime Video in the US.

Simple young love story made cinematic with its beautiful acting and cinematography.

Watch this drama in winter to bask in its summer warmth and color.

Puppy love between a bubbly girl and withdrawn boy.

Nothing necessarily ground breaking in this drama, just great chemistry and sincerity among the leads. On Netflix in the US. 

Beautiful power play between a general and tenacious wealthy woman who was abandoned by her family.

Sweeping and epic costume drama

A budding writer from China’s rural Altay region dreams of big city lights, but ties To her culture, family, land, and a handsome Kazakh boy give her second thoughts.

A visual treat in every way. The cinematography and scenery are unmatched in kdrama as well as the focus on the Kazakh culture. 

A simple love story between a celebrity and a software engineer/gamer who bond over gaming. 

On Prime in the US.

On Netflix in the US.

Found family binds two boys, one girl, and two men together through time.

Heartwarming and funny.

Fate bring together two people with a past and we find that ties and trauma runs deep, but not deeper than love.

A standout drama dealing with tough issues, such as sexual violence, but wrapped in a modern time jump romance that sweeps you off your feet. On Netflix in the US. Would’ve been a 9 but one plot point in the second half made me drop a half a point. 

A ‘everyday Joe’ man and a sculptor discover love as they find out that they are on opposite sites of a very old war between worlds. 

This sci-fi/fantasy modern Cdrama blew me away with its visuals and the chemistry between the main characters. I am not a big scifi fan so I have no idea if it’s good science fiction, but this drama is stunning to watch for the mundane moments that the actor and director/ cinematographer made special. 

Light and fluffy rom coms about two reunited high school students who used to have a crush on each other. 

A reincarnated couple meet in modern times and enter fated love despite family ties.

The show is very slow and sweet with almost zero skinship. But the relationship is between two introverts who know themselves well is beautiful to watch. On Prime Video in the US.

Older gaming legend and a young computer science major begin a romance as they build the future of e-sports in China.

A bit of a guilty pleasure.  The two leads had great chemistry but thenML was a standout for me. I’m a sucker for grumpy/sunshine.

On Netflix on the US.