RouteVenus

Thank you! <3

Oh no, so they spent a whole ep 16 dealing with the ML thinking she wants to break up but she just wants to change job?

So....please spoil me: did they add some last minute misunderstanding and/or crisis?

It bothered me too. But I thought that having a heartbreak over the SFL was a fitting punishment because he got a taste of his own medicine. And if I remember correctly, he also apologized.... I always remember that the worst case of this was in Boss and Me where the SML covered for the plotting SFL but was never called out on it.

modern romances with little to no angst (feel good shows):

- My Little Happiness (2021) - mature yet cute, nearly no angst, no major interference from third parties in the OTP's lives

- Moonlight (2021) - slice-of-life from world of publishing, features Esther Yu and Ryan Ding (just survive the first couple of episodes, it gets better as it progresses), also the beta couple is great as well

Other feel-good modern romances: You Are My Glory, Falling Into Your Smile (both feature world of e-sports to some extent, which can be a turn-off for some people)

If never watched a fantasy c-drama before, Love Between Fairy and Devil is a perfect start.
Not too angsty, very concentrated on the main couple and their relationship (the side characters are there and they are great but they don't steal the show)
Very much like a fairytale, with a HEA.

If you want historical/fantasy rom-com, Romance of Tiger and Rose is a great place to start. It also features Zhao Lusi and it's about a screenwriter who is transported into the book she writes. Naturally, she doesn't want to change anything but it doesn't work out...she also falls for the ML :).

modern romances with little to no angst (feel good shows):

- My Little Happiness (2021) - mature yet cute (height difference between the leads!), nearly no angst, no major interference from third parties in the OTP's lives

- Moonlight (2021) - slice-of-life from world of publishing, features Esther Yu and Ryan Ding (just survive the first couple of episodes, it gets better as it progresses), also the beta couple is great as well

Glad you enjoy it, it was one of my favorite watches last year. Season 2 is also very good, I know it has slightly worse rating here on MDL, but in my opinion it had better plot, better budget (hurray for nice costumes for FL finally) and good relationship development between the leads that smoothly continues from S1. I hope that Viki will buy S2 too!

Thank you so much for writing this so well!
I watched both seasons several months ago and I thought that the criticism directed at the FL was mostly unfair and undeserved.

I love that when things get tough, she drops her "cute/annoying" behaviour and concentrates on the task at hand. I also love that she was brought up as a higher class lady but never complains about harsh conditions and is kind and helpful to less fortunate (she hangs out with pirates, becomes friends with a girl who was sold into brothel etc.).

And generally speaking, I really enjoy that (while plot-wise the show is campy nonsense) the relationship development of the leads is believable and you can really see them grow and adapt during both seasons.
(e.g. while the ML does some noble idiocy in S1, he learns to treat the FL as his partner in S2)

The leads only ever like each other, so I wouldn't call the situation "love triangle" of any kind.
The other characters never seriously endanger their relationship or make them consider them in any way.

To be more specific (spoilers ahead):
He Yuan Ting - enemy prince - is obsessed with the FL (I am reluctant to call it "love"); she never even liked him
Ji Yuan Hao - the ML's brother - the emperor seriously considers marrying him to the FL but the betrothal never officially happens and he later gets together with Jia Min instead
Ji Hong - the ML's teenage brother seems to have a bit of crush on the FL :), he is a minor character
Jiang Sha - a dancer that He Yuan Ting is trying to "gift" to the ML as a concubine, but the ML avoids it and Jiang Sha never likes him anyway
Xie Yao - a stereotypical "bitchy" girl that is pushed by her family to "win" the ML, but he makes his disinterest very clear to her; she is only featured briefly in the last plot arc

The leads start off as being suspicious of each other and they make mild trouble for each other in the first episodes; they start trusting each other in cca episode 7 and by episode 12, they are clearly in love, although the FL only fully realizes it later (in ep 16 I think); they get together oficially in episode 19 and marry in the final episode. Disclaimer: the romance is fairly chaste, only two or three light kisses and hugs, no make-outs or passion. It's still a cute show though!

I finished this last night. The set-up gave me strong "Story of Minglan" vibes, but unfortunately the second half wasn't imho nearly as good as the first one. I even started fast-forwarding most of the side characters' scenes. I waited 12 episodes for the mains to finally trust each other and share information, but they never really discuss the hidden enemies or do their planning together (with some very few and short exceptions towards the end).

Also, don't expect anything near "steamy" from this show. There are only like two or three very chaste kisses in the last portion of the show. And I admit I sort of hated that the FL never called the ML by his name, she only called him by his titles in the whole series (unless I missed something)....it just felt weird.

Still, it's a cute show with likeable leads and some really fun side characters (Princess Jiamin would deserve a spin-off! :D)

Yes, it's a romantic comedy with HEA :).

No problem! I see that you watched Fake Princess, I've been hesitating to watch it since forever...is it good?

If I can add my recs for another two historical feel-good rom-coms:

Oh My Sweet Liar!
PROS: close in style to My Uncanny Destiny (silly slapstick comedy in combo with more serious moments - but nothing too angsty); many likeable characters; the development of romances and friendships feels natural, real kisses
CONS: both leads are unlikeable in the first several episodes, I nearly dropped it because the FL was too cringey and the ML too cruel - it gets much better around episode 6 or so and (imho) keeps the good quality to the very end

The Romance of Hua Rong - season 1 and 2
PROS: great leads who both go through a real development during the two seasons; their relationship develops as well (they trust each other more and more, they learn from their misunderstandings); lots of skinship and kisses; it's campy and fun
CONS: low budget - very visibly so, FL has the worst costumes in S1, plots are mostly nonsensical (but it's a comedy, so it's ok...), FL is dubbed with an unpleasant high-pitched voice which makes her unlikeable for some people (imho, as a character she is actually great, she starts off as a heroine-in-training and gradually becomes more and more capable, she is resilient and righteous to the core)

I am crossing my fingers that given the popularity of Til the End of the Moon, Viki might buy rights to this drama as well...

1) When do the leads realize their feelings?
The premise is that the leads have been working together for 2 years and are already close but don't realize they are in love.
The ML starts realizing his love for the FL in episode 9.
The FL starts realizing her love for the ML in episode 14.

2) When does the 1st kiss occur?
EP 13 - the ML kisses the FL while she's drunk and she kisses him back.
She later thinks that she kissed the SML and only imagined the ML, she realizes that it was the ML in ep 17.

3) Do the second/third leads plot against the leads?
- The 3rd ML Chu Nan dates the FL in eps 2–6 but really loves the 3rd FL Shen Qing (the ML's sister), he and Shen Qing get their HEA in ep 12.
- The SFL Yao Qing has had a thing for the ML for years and she gives him some opportunities to get together with her but she never begs him or plots against the FL. She is the one who actually pushes the leads together.
- The SML He Yu is after the FL mostly because he enjoys the chase and to compete with the ML. The SML uses some underhanded tactics to get the FL, annoying but nothing too serious, the FL is never into him.
- The SFL and SML slowly become closer romantically in ep 18 and end up together in ep 22.

4) Any noble idiocy?
A little. Before they are a couple, the FL pretends to be in a relationship with the SML, so the ML would let her leave the company and got his investment. This occurs in eps 16–17, she clarifies things to the ML at the end of ep 17 and returns to him to help to save the company.
The ML occassionaly keeps the FL in the dark about things, so he can shoulder all trouble himself, especially in eps 22–23, but he learns his lesson at the end.

5) When do the leads start dating?
In ep 18 they confirm they want to be together, they officially start dating in ep 19.

6) Any break-up?
No, once the leads get together, they don't waver.

7) Any disapproving relatives?
The FL's parents are great and supportive, the ML's sister as well.
The ML's grandma is rich, snobbish and controlling but she never interferes in the leads' relationship.

8) Any crazy exes?
Yes, unfortunately. The ML's crazy ex appears in the ep 21 and we only get rid of her in the final ep 24. She tries to blackmail the ML, gets close with his grandmother and bullies the FL a little. The leads are uncomfortable, but they never stop trusting each other; it's only frustrating to watch because it was such an unnecessary cliché and takes screentime from the OTP.

9) Ending?
HEA of course <3.

I don't know if this is gonna be helpful to someone, but under the spoiler tag below, I am answering the following:
1) When do the leads realize their feelings?
2) When does the 1st kiss occur?
3) Do the second/third leads scheme against the leads?
4) Any noble idiocy?
5) When do the leads start dating?
6) Any break-up?
7) Any disapproving relatives?
8) Any crazy exes?
9) Ending?

Thank you for this comment, I am just finishing Lucky's First Love and want to watch Moonlight next and your review really encouraged me to do so!

Your article made me fully realize that I am in a kdrama slump as well...and have been for quite some time. (I am in a cdrama phase now, good for me :P.)

I've actually finished only 2(!) kdramas that were made in 2020 or later: My Roommate is a Gumiho and A Business Proposal.

My Girlfriend is a Gumiho is nice. There is nearly nothing wrong with it, the FL is amazing and allows no misunderstandings (basically forces the ML to communicate and to have a healthy relationship which is rare). The side couple is cute. But at the same time, it felt mellow and boring to me and I didn't even want to rewatch it after I finished it.

If I can recommend one older kdrama, it's I'm Not a Robot from 2017. I know it doesn't seem so attractive since the plot is about the FL who pretends to be a robot because the ML is allergic to people (really)....yes, the premise is silly. But the chemistry and acting of the OTP is amazing, their connection feels so real that they are very high on my kdrama OTPs list, together with the couples from Healer and Master's Sun. Not to mention that once they get together they are really cute and their relationship is very healthy. So....you might want to give it a try if you want something fluffy and not angsty.

Here you go:
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/seven-unfortunate-lifetimes-all-thanks-to-a-single-moment-of-impulse/
Direct link to Chapter 1: https://www.volarenovels.com/novel/seven-unfortunate-lifetimes/7ul-chapter-1

The worst deaths are in the first two lifetimes, because in the first one, the ML doesn't have his memories and in the second one the FL doesn't have her memories.
In all the other lifetimes they know who they are, so the deaths are not that tragic imho since they are aware they are immortal and that their mortal bodies are "disposable".

On the other hand, it should be said btw that they were not punished to be "star-crossed" - they are actually sentenced to 7 human lives of mutual fated love, so they would learn to respect one another. They just keep messing that up because they retain their memories and actively fight against their "love fate" XD.

It's hard to say how much they're gonna stick with the book but the book doesn't have too much angst actually, it's more lighthearted than it would seem from the premise. I can't wait to see what they did with the story!