Excelent plot and lead characters
Dramas/movies with both a well thought-out plot and great lead characters.
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1. Meng Xing Chang An
Chinese Drama - 2021, 49 episodes
According to me one of the most underappreciated dramas. I guess it's because of sort of bitter ending, however this drama tells the story of powerless emperor struggling to survive in palace where many parties supposed to protect and support him follow each their different agendas to seize power, while the nation suffers. It's a story of a man sacrificing everything, his happiness, reputation, love and whole life, in order to return the empire to its original order. While with other dramas I soon forget what they actually were about, this drama left very long-lasting and strong impression even after a long period of time.
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2. Xing Han Can Lan
Chinese Drama - 2022, 27 episodes
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3. Vincenzo
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
The plot of bad guy dealing with even worse guys may sound old and worn, however I felt strong satisfaction on behalf of all people being oppressed with no strength to fight back. I also liked the female lead, which was no pampered softie girl waiting for her knight to save her, but a strong minded and intelligent woman, which kept very strong sense of good reasoning through the whole series - in other words, this is one of a few dramas with no misunderstandings between protagonists, since both of them are able to communicate and hear the reasoning before they take action, like every adult person should (finally!).
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4. Wat is er aan de hand met secretaresse Kim?
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
Realising what we had only after we are about to loose it is a very common thing we all can relate to. But when the conglomerate magnate is about to loose something he never once though could be lost, we can expect the tough fight. What I liked about this drama the most was the supporting family of both leads. I am actually pretty sick of bossy parents trying to get their way, or power-hungry persons scheeming to get what they want, so I was able to lay back feeling relieved there will be no such thing in this drama. I also liked the way both characters were evolving - what started as purely comic narcist with work-sickend secretary evolved into two persons deeply caring for each other, realizing it was this way a very long time already.
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5. Shooting Star
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
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6. Love Like the Galaxy: Part 2
Chinese Drama - 2022, 29 episodes
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7. Healer
Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes
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8. Model Taxi
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
I really like the way this show deals with the border of right and wrong. Its a struggle between two main parties - prosecutor strongly believing in law and those, who were previously hurt and disappointed by the so-called-law, deciding to handle revenge for others with their own hands. I liked the show gradually coming to a conclusion, neither the self-driven revenge nor the law are perfect and there need to be trust and cooperation to accomplish real justice.
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9. Hwarang
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
I like this kind of shows because they allow me loosen up and relax - story is not complicated, yet not boring eather, characters have depth and are not just good, or just evil, there is enough friendship, loyalty and compassion to make up for the tension, so your heart does not feel heavy by watching it. Oh, and although I hate love triangles, I didn't mind it here, since it was properly managed so I wasn't feeling an urge to roll my eyes (like I always do when the protagonist makes something dim-witted and self-unaware just to add some excitement to the triangle ).
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10. A Business Proposal
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
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11. D.P
Korean Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
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12. Doctors
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
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13. Destruction
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
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14. Falling Into Your Smile
Chinese Drama - 2021, 31 episodes
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15. Go Go Squid!
Chinese Drama - 2019, 41 episodes
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16. Chief Kim
Korean Drama - 2017, 20 episodes
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17. He is Psychometric
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
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18. Haar Privéleven
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
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19. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
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20. Ip Man
Hong Kong Movie - 2008
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21. Lawless Attorney
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
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22. Cang Lan Jue
Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes
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23. Military Prosecutor Doberman
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
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24. Oh My Venus
Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes
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25. Romantiek is een bonusboek
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
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26. Writing Your Fate
Korean Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
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27. She Was Pretty
Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes
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28. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
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29. Suspicious Partner
Korean Drama - 2017, 40 episodes
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30. Tomorrow
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
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31. Only You!
Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes
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32. The K2
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
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33. Jin Xin Si Yu
Chinese Drama - 2021, 45 episodes
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34. W
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
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35. Stealth Walker
Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes
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36. Thirty But Seventeen
Korean Drama - 2018, 32 episodes
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37. Golden Spirit: Joseon Marriage Prohibition
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
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38. Fight For My Way
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
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39. Fall In Love
Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes
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40. My Unicorn Girl
Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
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41. The Lighter and the Princess' Gown
Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes
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42. Moonlight
Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes
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43. The Day of Becoming You
Chinese Drama - 2021, 26 episodes
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44. Het verhaal van Nokdu
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
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45. Hei Yue Guang Wen Na BE Ju Ben
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
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46. The Evil Face
Chinese Drama - 2022, 18 episodes
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47. Jiu Xiao Han Ye Nuan
Chinese Drama - 2023, 36 episodes
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48. So I Married an Anti-Fan
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
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49. Cuo Liao
Chinese Drama - 2023, 36 episodes
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50. Secretary Bai Wants to Resign Everyday
Chinese Drama - 2022, 21 episodes
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51. See You in My 19th Life
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
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52. Xi Qian Hua
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
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53. Cheng Huan Ji
Chinese Drama - 2024, 37 episodes