DaliaB

The Drama was a typo, it's actually a series of movies about Sissi: The Young Empress. Its from 1956 and got dubbed into a bunch of languages, and gets played over and over. It has a similar vibe to Sound of Music, which you might know.
Sissi's story also got a miniseries in 2009 or so, which was slightly less kitschy and also got subtitled or dubbed in other European countries.
(I am from Austria btw, Sissi was Empress of Austria in the late 19th Century.)

It seems to me some of the difference would just come from being immersed in the country and learning all about it's history vs. looking for entertainment and more universal themes.

I know the most popular drama from my country abroad is the kitschiest, hallmark-level retelling of historic events. It is also popular domestically, but no serious critic would rate it highly, because it's basically a fairytale. While the gritty, realistic stories about war and crime get high ratings from movie enthusiasts never make it abroad, and if they do, they do not become popular.

I think it's the same with these Dramas. I would have to read up a lot to even know the setting of some of these popular dramas, while most Chinese people probably learned about it in school. And since they live there, they can judge the realism of things better than foreigners can. I feel like the tendency on MDL is for stories with universal themes or heart fluttering being the most popular. I also have the subjective impression that either the demographics on MDL veer towards young or because of media previously consumed there is a huge bias towards youth and high school dramas, which does not seem to be the case on Douban, probably because youngsters don't rate there or the High School Dramas are also judged on realism.

I beg to differ, if a drama is complete garbage I will give it a 3. ;-) :-P

I am sad now, because the 5 I got to watch were awesome.

I came for the historical dramas, because they are a feast for the eyes, stayed for contemporary romance, but I am currently discovering more and more not strictly romance, deeper dramas. I just wish they didn't have so many episodes, I always lose interest when the fillers keep coming.

Thankyou for this rant and taking one for the team. I watched a few episodes of this and hoped it would develop, but realised I was skipping like crazy and only enjoyed the parts with Yi Ming, wish he was the main lead and got a nice girl... I cringed so hard at their reason for getting married. I am not going to continue after the SFL appeared, it's a hot mess.

The coats were the only reason I kept watching the original. Flipping boring, but coats on point.

I don't like them either, but this one was so well done. They weren't shy about having different types of bodies, and yet it wasn't crude. I laughed quite a bit. Also love a respectful ML.

No mention of how the characters of Forever and Ever are the reincarnated characters of One and Only? I would probably not have watched these dramas individually, but I am super intrigued by them being the same souls.
Also really looking forward to "She and her perfect Husband", the trailers look sizzling and I like the plot where the woman is the main earner.

My to watch list just got longer... Samurai Cat seems to be such a weird show, but might entice my cat loving friend to finally give Asian dramas a chance.

I love the show as a whole. Love is not science and all that.
I also agree that the Taiwanese shows are often the most humane and sweetest, they are great at writing characters and their acting is very natural. (Not all the time, but usually when I am smitten with shows, they happen to be Taiwanese 8 out 10 times.)

I made my comment for people like myself, who might not watch it after reading all the comments about the BL being the only good thing. I personally don't mind the 2nd CP, I think they are fairly cute, but I came and stayed for the 1st CP. And I like the other couples too.

Everyone who thinks this is a BL, it is also worth watching for the other couples. The main couple is a noona romance, there is an older couple, there is potentially also a GL in the making... It's a sweet, beautifully written show.

Viki App

The two leads in "Dear Missy" really inspired me, even though they are both flawed and at times petty and childish, they are so sophisticated and professional in their jobs. It gave me upwind in my job, styling and everything as well.

This was one of the most captivating dramas I have ever watched. I had to rewatch it as well. I was drawn in by the emotional impact it had on me first, and then two days later I realised that it made me think a lot as well.I felt like it was Tak Dong Kyungs story too, though, both their story of going from existing to living.

I also saw the Maiim Vision Village Church in another drama, but can't remember which... Maybe The Undateables? I also recently recognized the FLs rooftop place in "The Heirs" again, isn't the one in your picture? But it was in a clip, so I don't remember which drama. It also happened three times in Chinese historical dramas now, that are all shot at the same studio, and I was like "Hey, I know this lane..."

Thank Godess for people like you reviewing Dramas, because I would miss so many good shows otherwise. Reminds me of a French movie that had a similar setup called "I Am Not An Easy Man", which was funny and sad at the same time.

Lol, same.

I feel like this was the one time it was genuine Enemies, so often they are just "Two People who had a minor disagreement to Lovers" or "People who have poor comprehension skills to Lovers".