2024 Drama Rankings
2024 is off to a slow start.
As a reminder, I rank c-dramas I watch by year of release. This enables me to compare dramas that are released at the same time and makes it unnecessary for me to adjust my past ratings. I raise the bar every year, as the industry advances. So an 8.0 for me from 2019 is not as good as an 8.0 in 2023; it is just an 8.0 relative to other dramas in its vintage.
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1. Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Season 2
Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes
Into the wild, wicked West.
Finding justice along the Silk Road. -
2. Joy of Life: Season 2
Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes
You only live twice.
Fan Xian is back! A long anticipated and highly satisfying sequel. -
3. Lost You Forever Season 2
Chinese Drama - 2024, 23 episodes
The Return of the King.
The second part of a dark and beautiful fairytale. -
4. Qing Ming Shang He Tu Mi Ma
Chinese Drama - 2024, 26 episodes
Currently Watching
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5. Bian Shui Wang Shi
Chinese Drama - 2024, 21 episodes
The abyss looks into you.
An amazing, thrilling and chilling survival suspense adventure. -
6. Fu Shi Hui
Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes
Three Blind Mice.
A brilliant action adventure treasure hunt. -
7. Liu Shui Tiao Tiao
Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes
Sweet with a bitter aftertaste.
A riveting tale of politics, revenge, love and freedom. -
8. Jiu Chong Zi
Chinese Drama - 2024, 34 episodes
Currently Watching
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9. Deep Lurk
Chinese Drama - 2024, 38 episodes
To see all without being seen.
A riveting, fast paced spy thriller. -
10. Yu Feng Xing
Chinese Drama - 2024, 39 episodes
Tale as old as time.
A funny and profound xianxia. -
11. Kan Bu Jian Ying Zi De Shao Nian
Chinese Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
Lost and Found.
A moving suspense thriller about lost children. -
12. Di Jia Qian Jin
Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes
All the world's a stage.
An addictive and melodramatic tale of revenge and regret. -
13. The First Shot
Chinese Drama - 2024, 32 episodes
Cops and Robbers.
A riveting and suspenseful crime thriller with some excellent twists. -
14. Guang Ming Zhi Lu
Chinese Drama - 2024, 38 episodes
Winning hearts and minds.
A young man's ideological journey during a time of struggle and change. -
15. Long Life Long Street
Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes
She's just not into you anymore.
Story of Minglan meets obsessive, once-requited love. -
16. Jiao Cang
Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes
To Catch a Thief
A funny and light hearted enemies to lovers romance. -
17. Zi Chuan
Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes
To Ningdom Come.
The first part of a Machiavelli thriller set in the fantasy world Zichuan. -
18. Xin Sheng
Chinese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes
Fake it till you make it.
An engaging suspense thriller. -
19. Interlaced Scenes
Chinese Drama - 2024, 15 episodes
Murder He Wrote.
A dark and riveting suspense thriller. -
20. Shu Jin Ren Jia
Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes
Currently Watching
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21. Shao Nian Bai Ma Zui Chun Feng
Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes
One that loved not wisely but too well.A high fantasy martial arts youth adventure; prequel to The Blood of Youth (2022). -
22. The Story of Hua Zhi
Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes
Buns of Steel.
A fun, female centric romp through feudal China. -
23. Chun Hua Yan
Chinese Drama - 2024, 32 episodes
Sizzles while it fizzles.
A hot revenge drama that rapidly runs out of steam. -
24. Square Pavilion
Chinese Drama - 2024, 37 episodes
Diplomatic impunity.
An ancient workplace comedy with a bit of romance, mystery and diplomacy. -
25. In Blossom
Chinese Drama - 2024, 32 episodes
Switched by the witch.
A little bit of mystery, romance and fantasy. -
26. Judge Dee's Mystery
Chinese Drama - 2024, 32 episodes
Can't judge a book by its cover.
A decent collection of Judge Dee's mysteries. -
27. Zhu Lian Yu Mu
Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes
A crying shame.
A heavy and boring business story about the ancient jewelry trade. -
28. Jin Yong Wu Xia Shi Jie
Chinese Drama - 2024, 60 episodes
Currently Watching
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29. Chen Mo De Dai Jia
Chinese Drama - 2024, 18 episodes
Growing Pains.
An addictive crime thriller focusing on juvenile cases. -
30. A Mai Cong Jun
Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes
For clown and country.
One brave and patriotic woman's adventures with a clown prince. -
31. Wu Da Zei Wang
Chinese Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
Thief of hearts.
A fast paced and action packed Republican era treasure hunt. -
32. The Story of Mystics
Chinese Drama - 2024, 34 episodes
Dropped at episode 10.
Sibilant whispers and crocodile tears. -
33. An Ye Yu Li Ming
Chinese Drama - 2024, 38 episodes
Dropped at Ep 15
Another forgettable Republican spy drama. -
34. Frozen Surface
Chinese Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
Frostbite.
A Northeastern revival mystery thriller. -
35. The Fog of Suzhou
Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes
Strong on character but short on plot.
A very forgettable Republican spy drama set in Suzhou. -
36. Tou De Jiang Jun Ban Ri Xian
Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes
A hot and cheesy mess.
A funny, silly, lighthearted romance. -
37. Du Hua Nian
Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes
Dropped at Ep 14.
FL spends first life with a eunuch and second life emasculating her husband. -
38. The Farwell of Snow
Chinese Drama - 2024, 32 episodes
Dropped at ep 12.
Super cold FL in super cold winter gave me hypothermia. -
39. Mei You Wo De Cheng
Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes
Dropped at ep 12.
Spy thriller set in Harbin 1944. -
40. Love in the Desert
Chinese Drama - 2024, 26 episodes
Dropped at ep 12
Desert bodice ripper with hot visuals but zilch chemistry.