Recommended Dramas

My favorite J-drama and favorite adaptation of the manga "Boys Over Flowers." I recommend mostly for new J-drama watchers because more seasoned watchers might find the clichés too dated or repetitive. 

Season 2 is no brainer recommendation if you liked the first. In some ways, I think it's narratively better than the first though it does have the tired fiancée plot. However, it has one of the most satisfying endings I've ever seen in all my drama watching.

My second favorite K-drama and I've watched it at least 3 dramas. I really enjoy the look into Korea during the 90s and the k-pop culture of the time. There's only one part of this drama that I don't like, but I won't spoil it. I'm not such a fan of Reply 1994 and I have yet to finish Reply 1988... but I do plan to finish it eventually.

My favorite K-drama and seems like it will stay that way. There's nothing about this drama I don't like. The characters, story, music, and the vibe are just all to my taste.

I watched this recently (August 2024) and surprised myself by finishing within a week. Normally, it takes me much longer than that lol. The vibe reminds me of "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" and I hope I can find more K-dramas like it.

One of my top five favorite asadoras. Like "Hanako to Anne," this is another great *first* asadora for someone who is unsure where to start. It has everything you expect in an asadora but still manages to be exciting and fresh for people who have already seen a few. 

The first asadora that I watched and remains one of my favorite. This is a great *first" asadora for new watchers like "Natsuzora." I think you'll especially like it if you're an "Anne of Green Gables" fan like me. 

As a fan of the original "Cold Case," I found myself surprised that I actually liked this version just as much. It hits the same emotional beats perfectly. I would recommend this to everyone even if you're not that big a fan of crime/procedural dramas. The second and third seasons are also great and worth a watch.

My favorite Thai drama and my second favorite version of the manga "Boys Over Flowers." This one updates the story in a thoughtful way while also paying homage to the editions before it.

My second favorite J-drama. It's a sequel to 2005's "Hana Yori Dango" and an adaptation of the sequel manga "Hana Nochi Hare" (or Boys Over Flowers Season 2). This drama follows many of the tropes of its predecessor but with some improvements. The ML is also much more likeable. My only gripe is with the ending.

Thrillers aren't usually to my taste, but damn "Stranger" had me glued to my seat. I just had to keep watching to see the ending and the mystery unfolds so satisfyingly. Season 2 is also recommended though I liked it slightly less.

The premise of a girl with amnesia doesn't seem like anything to write home about... But the way the drama is written is truly *chef's kiss*. The actors, particularly the FL andML, deserve all of the praise I've seen so far.

The first J-drama I watched from week to week. The mystery had me hooked and I just had to tune in every week. The FL and ML are both solid actors and I liked the twisted romance aspect of it.

A cute rom-com which was the first Chinese drama I ever watched. I'm not a big fan of C-drama but I always look back on this one fondly. It's kind of a modern day "Itazura na Kiss" but the ML and FL aren't as insufferable.

These sort of high fantasy series aren't usually my thing but I remember being surprisingly impressed with the world building of this drama. I didn't like the second season as much,  but it's still worth watching just to finish the series.

I believe "Crash Landing on You" is one of the new starting points for K-drama watchers today. After not watching K-dramas for years, this one single-handedly brought me back to this world. It's a great romance though also a tearjerker.

I watched this K-drama in like three days which is pretty short for me. From the first moment, this drama had me tuned in completely. I love the past lives aspect of this drama and it's honestly the first time I've felt that this plot device was used well in a drama.

Another small town K-drama, though I particularly liked this one for it's ensemble cast. It's not for everyone since it's very slow paced. However, if you like lots of characters and small town vibes, I think you'll enjoy this one.

One of those K-dramas about living in a small town that has become one of my favorite themes lol. I'm including this one here because this one of the first such dramas I remember watching. A solid romance though I probably remember Kim Young-ok's performance in this the most.

A more adult-oriented drama that takes an honest look at sex. I really appreciate this drama for its different portrayals of people's sex lives. The humor and sex scenes are a little cringey at times so keep that in mind.

"Asa ga Kita" is a little different from other asadoras as it's set in the earliest time period thus far. As such, the asadora focuses more on the changing of the eras and women's rights. It's brilliantly written with an amazing romance and unforgettable characters.

Yet another great asadora and my personal favorite thus far. This asadora is best described as soothing. I think the framing device contributes to this feeling since it's told through an older woman describing her life (similar to Oshin). Though it has it's sad moments, I mostly just find this asadora relaxing and would love to revisit it someday.