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

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.

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.

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 interesting 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 to play professional tennis 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 an 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

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.

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.

A cold general falls in love with a tenacious but uneducated wealthy woman who was abandoned by her family. Together they navigate family, palace politics and past traumas to find their way to love.

Sweeping and epic costume drama. Though it gets lost in childish games at times, the drama never feels really off track. It patiently trods in a logical direction and doesn’t rely on plot armor or fantasy tricks too much to move the story forward. The first part feels very rom-com/rom-melo, but the action picks up in the latter half. While I don’t necessarily think the actors have the best chemistry, they act so well in their roles that even these two well known cdrama idols disappear into their characters. The last 3 episodes feel rushed and bizarre but it’s a satisfying enough ending to watch. Despite it’s flaws, it’s still probably my favorite costumed historical cdramas because the writing is just so good.

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. 

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. 

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 ‘wounded wolf’ man and a female pig butcher fall in love in a land and time torn apart by war and class distinctions. Our heroic couple, and their blood and found families, journey through turmoil, change, and rebuilding for a better future.

Cinematic and romantic this drama is just beautiful to watch and enjoy. The romantic and comedic chemistry between the leads is spectacular. The costuming is spot on between between organic textiles to heroic armor. And the cinematography and art direction is beautiful enough to excuse any plot armor, of which there is plenty.

A vengeful general and quietly wise lady from enemy families enter a marriage for the good of the nation and fall in love as they navigate the turbulent waters of family, war, and politics.

Beautiful visuals and wonderful chemistry.

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. 

Deep seated revenge fans the flames of love between a mysterious and powerful Duke and a wise noble lady. From the height of power to the family bonds around them, an intricate game of cat and mouse aligns the couple while it saves and disposes of the people around them.

The chemistry between the main leads is incredible and runs beyond physical to a deep intellectual chemistry. This drama contains some of my favorite individual scenes and episodes in all of kdrama. The visuals, the music, the cast and acting are All amazing. But Wow! What a drama with a capital DRA-MA! The show starts off with a few amazing episodes but gets bogged down in endless childish fights that cheapen its storytelling. After pushing past those early/mid episodes, the drama mostly finds its footing again.

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 the ML was a standout for me. I’m a sucker for grumpy/sunshine.

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 and a bit old school but sweet and cozy winter vibes.

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

On Prime in the US.

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.

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

On Netflix on the US.