Favorite Shows
Due to me finding too many gems recently, I decided to up the list to Top 15. As before though, the moment a drama falls out of the top 15, it's goodbye from the list. I also added some comments as to why the shows are in this list.
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1. The Long Ballad
Chinese Drama - 2021, 49 episodes
Now, after landing in a drama slump from "Sell Your Haunted House" and then worsening it even through the masterpiece of "Cross Fire", I wanted to give the "go for something totally different" a new try. And I landed on this drama. I originally only even discovered this because it was advertised by viki at the time. Well, after binging it for days, this time with sacrificing all kinds of sleep I needed for work and then pretty much sleeping like 3 hours in 3 days, I got through it. And I do not regret it.
This sent me straight into the next drama slump. This drama has managed to capture me from beginning to end. And yes, I attribute part of it to the male lead actually keeping braids in his hair from the beginning of the drama until the end. Forget the straight hair. I love braids.
After this drama and my now 3 drama lasting drama slump, I decided to accept my fate and suffered through the slump for about 3-4 weeks without any dramas before any chance of recovery. This ends the story of my 3 part drama slump that I recommend to not repeat. Give your heart a break. But do watch the show. It's a masterpiece.
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2. Cross Fire
Chinese Drama - 2020, 36 episodes
Trying to get out of a drama slump (from "Sell Your Haunted House") I decided to go for something totally different and landed on this drama. Well. Despite the not that great quality while watching it, considering I do not understand Chinese and had to rely on subs, I binged it as much as I could while also trying to get sleep for when work started every day.
And then I went straight into the next drama slump after this. This drama was like a punch in the gut. It has everything I love and I absolutely adore the characters. I thought I would dislike part of it and maybe I do dislike like 10 minutes. But it just catches your attention and refuses to let go. And the acting from the two main leads is just phenomenal.
If you want to know more about my 3 part drama slump journey and how I tried to get out of the one from this show, continue on to "The Long Ballad".
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3. The Lotus Casebook
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
I knew the ending before watching because I was spoiled but I still watched it even though I don't like when hopeful dramas like this don't have a "we will always be together and go on travels" hopeful ending (I am trying not to spoil the ending for everyone, so I'm just saying the ending is not like the "new beginning" kind of style that I like. I will not go into more details).
Still I watched it. And I loved it.
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4. Shao Nian Ge Xing
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
I watched the first two episodes and already guessed I would like it but had no idea how much. This whole drama makes you think they can never finish all this in 40 episodes but they do well and neither with a slow nor a fast pace but just perfect pace and storytelling.
I am absolutely in love with this drama and I hope season 2 comes out!
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5. Kimi no Hana ni Naru
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
I went into this expecting absolutely nothing. And I went out of it getting one of my favorite drama pasttimes. I absolutely love the story and for me it is proof that not every romance needs to include kisses and cuddles to no end. I swoon over it still.
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6. My School President
Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
Is this show great? Yes. Do I love it more than I should? Yes. Did I even buy merch? Definitely yes. Do I regret anything of it? Nope.
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7. Daebak Real Estate
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
Let me tell you the story of the biggest drama slump I ever experienced. This drama started it off. I do not regret watching it. I have rewatched it many times and I absolutely love this drama.
But then came Cross Fire.
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8. You Are My City and Fortress
Chinese Drama - 2021, 40 episodes
I was never really into Chinese romance dramas but this one killed me in all the good ways. I always waited for the characters to become annoying but I loved them from beginning to the end.
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9. It's Okay, That's Love
Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes
This was the first Asian drama I wanted on DVD and I bought it even. I laughed, I cried, I screamed. I loved every moment. (And I still listen to the OST used in the drama)
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10. Ning An Ru Meng
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
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11. The Bridal Mask
Korean Drama - 2012, 28 episodes
First ever drama slump. I never had it before watching this. The slump was horrible and great at the same time. Funny fact, I only managed to watch it through on the third attempt. The first two times I was so bad in recognising faces that I could not differentiate the actors and had trouble watching it. But it all turned out for the best. I absolutely love it now. One of the first amazingly brilliant secret vigilante dramas I know.
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12. Nirvana in Fire
Chinese Drama - 2015, 54 episodes
I started this some time after it aired and then stopped at episode 10 for a long time. Then finally picked it up during holidays and binged it even though I should have been writing a report.
Am I proud of binging instead of writing the report? No.
Do I regret binging this? No.
Some parts of the drama do not match with my likes and dislikes of shows (won't tell what as it would be a major spoiler) but somehow...I still appreciated the drama a lot.