Wuxia and supernatural and fantasy Dramas
Alphabetical order...
The reasons, why I would recommend each drama, differ widely and it naturally depends on personal preferences of a viewer as well, what aspects are attractive and which flaws can be overlooked. These are just the dramas that have characters and plot lines, that provide joy and/or value of different kinds to me (more so, than other dramas).
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1. A Journey to Love
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
So many heroes in this one, having their own motivations and troubles and the drama manages to endear each one to the viewer. Together they experience life and death situations, friendship, love, heartbreak and the endless political struggle for power. The story is mostly fast paced, fluctuating between tensed moments, action, comedy and heartwarming scenes.
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2. Arang and the Magistrate
Korean Drama - 2012, 20 episodes
The existences in the afterlife were depicted in an entertaining and sympathetic way. I liked following the journey of the female main character to find out about her life and others and solve the mysteries surrounding her mission. I would recommend this drama for the various interesting and likable characters, as well as the colourful sets and costumes.
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3. Stand By Me
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Very lively and jolly, this drama is light-hearted with emotional moments in between. The fresh and original characters made me feel engaged in their ambitions and struggels, so I find it very entertaining, to watch three strangers grow into a lovely team, while navigating the martial arts world as well as the business world and meeting new friends and adversaries. Each character (not only the three reluctant teammates) has endearing flaws, amazing abilities and layered personalities, which make them perfect to portray personal growth and friendship in a pleasurable way.
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4. Colourful Bone
Chinese Drama - 2017, 54 episodes
This drama has a sensible and kind female main character, as well as a kind, but also tragic male main character, who have to find healing as well as uncover some happenings of the past. For me it all comes together in a well rounded story, involving the royal court and hateful adversaries.
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5. In Blossom
Chinese Drama - 2024, 32 episodes
A good mix of mystery and romance. The fantasy-elements in this drama are very little, probably only to set up the situation for the main characters: a face-swap, that's actually more of a body-swap. For the most part, it's a nice fictional historical drama, with an entertaining story line, likeable characters and also beautiful settings and costumes.
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6. Legend of Yun Xi
Chinese Drama - 2018, 48 episodes
I liked the depiction of the magical-medical world and the characters, although fairly standard, are also played nicely. Just a little romance and adventure story, with a lot of tropes, but still entertaining to watch.
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7. Listening Snow Tower
Chinese Drama - 2019, 56 episodes
Actually, I could not get into this one at first, and I skiped through half the drama until I suddenly connected with the characters and story lines. So I went back and watched again from the beginning, this time really engaged in all the details about the characters and their struggles. Its always nice to see many different people coming together to fight for a just common goal. With many different couples, one can also find all kinds of romance in bits throughout the story. Of course, there is also lots of plotting against and fighting between different fractions and characters.
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8. Meteor, Butterfly, Sword
Chinese Drama - 2010, 30 episodes
A dark and engaging story about different character, that all have their personal stories and desires. Its interesting to see the events unfold and the characters develop through the plot. Even though the story does have some cruel moments, it fits the hardships and struggles of its characters. Overall, I like the depiction of friendship, fights and romance in this drama.
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9. Mirror of the Witch
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
Its a bit like a dark fairy tale, but also very sweet and colourful. I think, the actors of the main characters played their role well and made the story engaging.
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10. Night Watchman's Journal
Korean Drama - 2014, 24 episodes
Fighting dark forces in secret and also dealing with royal politics, as well as a little bit of romance, together it makes an entertaining story with some likable characters.
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11. Shi Jiu Ling
Chinese Drama - 2022, 64 episodes
Its like a collection of short stories, connected by the overarching story of the two main characters and their relationship. Some of the scenes in the demon tavern are set in modern times, while most of the drama is set in a rural ancient landscape, filled with villagers and all kinds of spirits and demons. Its sweet and engaging, despite its low budget production.
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12. Fei Hu Wai Zhuan
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
Based on a classic wuxia-story, this one contains lots of confrontations between martial artists, many heroic characters and villains, with varying motives. Conflicts between love and responsibilities is one of the themes, as well as friendship and honor. I liked the characters and them working with or against each other and the depiction of many different fractions and their interests.
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13. Horror Stories of Tang Dynasty
Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes
This drama balances the detective aspects well with politics of the time and also involves the atmosphere of the supernatural, even though more worldly explanations can be found in the course of the story. The characters and their chemistry make for an very entertaining journey through different places and their mysterious murder cases. The settings and costumes are also well done.
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14. Shao Nian Ge Xing
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
Without having read/watched the source material, one can feel it shining through this adaptation, that often reminded me of the action-heavy, colourful world of anime and manga/manhwa/manhua with its fighting scenes, bright costumes and varied settings. One can watch the meeting and rising of a group of friends, as well as explore the impactful events of the past and characters from the previous generation of heroes. Adventure, mysteries, politics and a little bit of romance are combined to make for an interesting story with many likable characters.
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15. The Classic of Mountains and Seas
Chinese Drama - 2016, 46 episodes
The story is build around the two female main characters and their journey to find their power and identity, which soon leads them on different paths, while having many companions to help or mislead them on their way. I liked the characters and their adventures, that helped them to learn and grow, as well as the fantasy elements and the overall visual presentation of the drama.
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16. The Dark Lord
Chinese Drama - 2018, 48 episodes
What sets this drama apart from most dramas is, that much of the story takes place in the countryside and provincial towns, showing challenges and ambitions of rural people and the local government officials, while the imperial curt and the emperor rarely come into the picture. Its a story about a free-spirited young prison guard, that gives up his job to pursue the opportunity of wealth on a different path. On his way, he meets plenty of interesting people, makes friends as well as enemies and often enough enemies might turn into allies or even friends. Sometimes a hero does not need any martial art skills to solve problems and rescue people, a bit of luck, quick wit and great companions are just as powerful, if not more so. The writing and the acting of the characters is making it easy, to care about them and experience their world through their perspectives.
This is a light watch with lots of humor, but still takes the characters and their relatable problems seriously. One can enjoy the various adventures, the numerous developing friendships between many characters and also some happy and unhappy romantic relationships. While this isn't as cruel and violent as many other historical dramas, there is depiction of violence and bloody scenes sporadically. In the last couple of episodes, it gets a little more dramatic and something tragic happens, but I would still say, the overall atmosphere is cheerful. -
17. The Four
Chinese Drama - 2015, 48 episodes
There is action and friendship, suffering of physical and emotional pain for love and duty, all set in a rather dark atmosphere.
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18. The Gate of Renewal
Chinese Drama - 2023, 36 episodes
The story involves the Jianghu, the buiseness world, romances and also the royal power struggle. The main character is not a fighter, but a strategist, who left his sects grounds for the first after studying for many years. Although he has an official mission, he has his own agenda, that is, looking for truth about his past and a tragic event.
Other characters are skilled fighters, so there is no lack of fighting scenes and action in the drama. Many characters get detailed backstories and plot lines, that tie into the plot twits and story progression.
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19. The Scholar Who Walks the Night
Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes
The main characters have tragic fates, which forces them to make difficult decisions in a cruel and violent world. With Vampires and court politics involved, lots of bloody scenes are to be expected, as well as the charm of the nocturnal creatures and the fight for ruling over the kingdom.
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20. The Vigilantes in Masks
Chinese Drama - 2011, 30 episodes
I found this one under the title Strange Hero Yi Zhi Mei and found it very fitting for the drama. Interesting characters, fights and a little bit of romance and a headstrong and strange main character make it an entertaining tale.
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21. Ye Cheng Fu
Chinese Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
With a bit reversed gender dynamics, this story is definitely a bit different. I enjoyed the second lead couple the most, but found many of the characters likable.