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. 

PeachBlossomGoddess jul 20, 2022
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  • Feng Qi Long Xi

    1. Feng Qi Long Xi

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes

    9.5

    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

    9.0

    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

    9.0

    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

    9.0

    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

    9.0

    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

    9.0

    Birds of a feather.
    A love story for the ages.

  • Xing Han Can Lan

    7. Xing Han Can Lan

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 27 episodes

    8.5

    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

    8.5

    Gone Girl.
    Best suspense thriller since The Bad Kids.

  • Fei Hu Wai Zhuan

    9. Fei Hu Wai Zhuan

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes

    8.5

    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

    8.5

    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

    8.5

    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

    8.5

    The truth will make them free. 
    A beautiful but angsty xianxia.

  • Try the World

    13. Try the World

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes

    8.0

    The Plagiarist Cookbook 
    Tropey but very funny and romantic.

  • Ting Qian Wu Song

    14. Ting Qian Wu Song

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes

    8.0

    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

    8.0

    We don't need another hero. 
    A dark wuxia.

  • Lie Zui Tu Jian

    16. Lie Zui Tu Jian

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 20 episodes

    8.0

    The mind's eye. 
    A unique forensic art police procedural.

  • Dark Walker

    17. Dark Walker

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes

    8.0

    The Dark Path. 
    A fast paced and intense narcotics cop thriller.

  • Yan Yu Fu

    18. Yan Yu Fu

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 34 episodes

    8.0

    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

    7.5

    When it rains, it pours. 
    An inspiring youth themed tribute drama.

  • Left Right

    20. Left Right

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 34 episodes

    7.5

    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

    7.5

    A wrinkle in time.
    A sweet romance with a time twist.

  • Zhu Qing Hao

    22. Zhu Qing Hao

    Chinese Drama - 2022, 22 episodes

    7.5

    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

    7.5

    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

    7.0

    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

    6.5

    Missing parts.
    Only worth watching for Wang Hedi.

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