2022 Drama Rankings
2022 turned out to be a slow year for c-dramas, where a lot of content was delayed due to a weak Chinese economy and delays due to the pandemic and/or important political events. Unsurprisingly, there was a strong pipeline of propaganda dramas, many of which ended up being decent watches. Draw the Line was the one I enjoyed most. It is also a year where there were some really enjoyable short dramas like A Familiar Stranger and the chesty Maid's Revenge. It is also a year of unexpected gems such as Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty and The Blood of Youth that blew many of the higher budget and higher profile dramas out of the water.
Even though 1H 2022 was been a bit of a slow for c-dramas, the ones that aired were of good quality, generally avoiding tired tropes. I am quite surprised that I have been able to rate so many dramas 9+ in 1H.
In 2H2022, drama airings slowed considerably after the big S/S+ dramas finished their run. The weak Chinese economy and the CCP meetings in 4Q led to little more than a slew of patriotic dramas. December saw some decent new dramas to finish the year including the surprise hit The Blood of Youth.
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![Feng Qi Long Xi]()
1. Feng Qi Long Xi
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
Who will spy on the spies?
An intricate ancient spy thriller that rewards the patient viewer. -
![Horror Stories of Tang Dynasty]()
2. Horror Stories of Tang Dynasty
Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes
The Making of a Di-tective.
Must watch sleeper ancient suspense hit of 2022. -
![Shao Nian Ge Xing]()
3. Shao Nian Ge Xing
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
Sword in hand, righteous in heart. 手中握剑, 心中有义.
Best wuxia of 2022. -
![Jing Cha Rong Yao]()
4. Jing Cha Rong Yao
Chinese Drama - 2022, 38 episodes
The sum of ordinary is great.
A hilarious slice of life police procedural. -
![Bian Liang Meng Hua Tu]()
5. Bian Liang Meng Hua Tu
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
Love is a many splendored thing.
An stunning grown up romance with strong empowerment themes. -
![Love Like the Galaxy: Part 2]()
6. Love Like the Galaxy: Part 2
Chinese Drama - 2022, 29 episodes
Birds of a feather.
A love story for the ages. -
![Xing Han Can Lan]()
7. Xing Han Can Lan
Chinese Drama - 2022, 27 episodes
Mother most foul.
Part 1 is a slow burn period family drama that sets up a romance that blossoms in Part 2. -
![The Daughter Who’s Come Back]()
8. The Daughter Who’s Come Back
Chinese Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
Gone Girl.
Best suspense thriller since The Bad Kids. -
![Fei Hu Wai Zhuan]()
9. Fei Hu Wai Zhuan
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
You can't bring a sword to a gun fight.
A classic Jin Yong wuxia with amazing combat scenes. -
![Basic Law of Genius]()
10. Basic Law of Genius
Chinese Drama - 2022, 34 episodes
Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.
An inspiring parallel universe story with amazing kid actors. -
![Qing Chuan Daily Life]()
11. Qing Chuan Daily Life
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.
A very funny comedy about sisterhood and feudal society. -
![Yu Jiao Ji]()
12. Yu Jiao Ji
Chinese Drama - 2022, 22 episodes
The truth will make them free.
A beautiful but angsty xianxia. -
![Try the World]()
13. Try the World
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
The Plagiarist Cookbook
Tropey but very funny and romantic. -
![Ting Qian Wu Song]()
14. Ting Qian Wu Song
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
Justice is blind and not heartless.
An eye opening drama about Chinese grassroots courts. -
![Say Hero Who Is Hero]()
15. Say Hero Who Is Hero
Chinese Drama - 2022, 38 episodes
We don't need another hero.
A dark wuxia. -
![Lie Zui Tu Jian]()
16. Lie Zui Tu Jian
Chinese Drama - 2022, 20 episodes
The mind's eye.
A unique forensic art police procedural. -
![Dark Walker]()
17. Dark Walker
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
The Dark Path.
A fast paced and intense narcotics cop thriller. -
![Yan Yu Fu]()
18. Yan Yu Fu
Chinese Drama - 2022, 34 episodes
Fresh twists on old cliches.
Another fresh romance that does not finish as strongly as it starts. -
![The Big Examination]()
19. The Big Examination
Chinese Drama - 2022, 22 episodes
When it rains, it pours.
An inspiring youth themed tribute drama. -
![Left Right]()
20. Left Right
Chinese Drama - 2022, 34 episodes
Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned.
Dogs blood family melodrama. -
![My Secret Roommate]()
21. My Secret Roommate
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
A wrinkle in time.
A sweet romance with a time twist. -
![Zhu Qing Hao]()
22. Zhu Qing Hao
Chinese Drama - 2022, 22 episodes
Pour some sugar on me.
A great treadmill romance that shouldn't be too closely scrutinized. -
![The Lady in Butcher's House]()
23. The Lady in Butcher's House
Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes
The meek shall inherit the earth.
A delightful and lighthearted watch. -
![Min Guo Da Zhen Tan]()
24. Min Guo Da Zhen Tan
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
All style no substance.
A Republican period adaptation of Hercule Poirot's cases set in Harbin. -
![Fu Tu Tower]()
25. Fu Tu Tower
Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes
Missing parts.
Only worth watching for Wang Hedi.
