2023 Drama Rankings
Chinese dramas started 2023 with a bang, taking storytelling, acting and production values up a noticeable notch with greater diversity in genres and some fantastic roles emerging for mature actors. In light of this, I have to raise the bar when it comes to rating dramas this year. Which makes me glad I decided to put together these ranking lists of dramas by year. This makes it unnecessary for me adjust my past ratings. Just know that an 8.0 for me from 2019 is not as good as an 8.0 in 2023; it is just an 8.0 relative to other dramas in its vintage.
As the year draws to a close, to my surprise modern c-dramas made great strides this year in terms of unique plots, amazing acting and riveting narratives. Half of my Top 10 dramas this year are modern dramas (and if Blossoms Shanghai moves up the list, more than half). The Long Season is almost a masterpiece and the only drama I rated 9.5 in 2023. The Knockout (#3) was a lot more popular but unfortunately the ending succumbed to propaganda and unfortunate censorship related cuts. Fearless Blood is another top notch, shockingly violent Fargo-like dark comedy that I didn't expect in a c-drama and is under appreciated.
Costume dramas with a few exceptions were quite disappointing. Even the hauntingly beautiful Lost You Forever had notably flaws that made it impossible for me to rate it 9.5 even though it is my top costume drama for 2023. It is still a cut above than Ripe Town and My Journey to You which I also rated a 9.0. This year's dark horse is actually a small budget hidden gem An Ancient Love Song (8.5) that stood out for unforgettable, uniquely creative storytelling, The idol costume dramas all ran into very similar issues including the overuse of delusional character types and wishy washy endings that try to be all things to all people. Even though I enjoyed many of them, I was unable to rate any of them that highly.
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1. Man Chang De Ji Jie
Chinese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
The winds of change.
A suspense mystery set in a time of profound change. -
2. Lost You Forever
Chinese Drama - 2023, 39 episodes
The Princess Bride.
A beautiful, mysterious and immersive fantasy about loss and longing. -
3. Punch Out
Chinese Drama - 2023, 39 episodes
The road to perdition.
A riveting crime thriller. -
4. Ripe Town
Chinese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
Confucius' last stand.
A superb ancient suspense that will thrill hard core mystery buffs. -
5. My Journey to You
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
House of cards.
A dark and suspenseful wuxia with stunning aesthetics. -
6. Xian Wei Jing Xia De Da Ming
Chinese Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
The mountains are high and the emperor is far away 山高皇帝远.
Ancient financial shenanigans. -
7. An Ancient Love Song
Chinese Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
A timeless love story with no beginning and no end.
One of my Must Watch dramas of 2023 -
8. Wu Long Shao Nian
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
Hope is not a strategy.
A very special, inspiring and realistic drama about life. -
9. Fearless Blood
Chinese Drama - 2023, 18 episodes
Today is a good day to die.
A mind-blowing, thrilling dark comedy Republican era wuxia. -
10. Fan Hua
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
Currently Watching
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11. West Out of the Yu Men
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
In the land of the scorpion the rooster is king.
A suspenseful, romantic desert fantasy adventure. -
12. Story of Kunning Palace
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
May the baddest man win.
A dark tale of revenge and atonement. -
13. The Lotus Casebook
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
Ask me no questions and I 'll tell you no lies.
An action packed, dark jianghu murder mystery. -
14. Young Blood 2
Chinese Drama - 2023, 27 episodes
The father, the son and the holy sheep.
The long awaited and much anticipated Season 2 of the adventures of six young Song spies. -
15. Hei Yue Guang Wen Na BE Ju Ben
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
Did you ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?
An angsty date with the devil. -
16. An Ye Ming Tan
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Catch me if you can!
A superb mystery cum police procedural.. -
17. The Starry Love
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
Flower Power.
A hilarious xianxia spoof. -
18. A Journey to Love
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
Drink the finest wines, look at lovely girls, make the best friends, and fight glorious battles.
Of spies, assassins, king and country and times gone by. -
19. Imperfect Victim
Chinese Drama - 2023, 29 episodes
Just Say No.
A thought provoking drama about consent and victim blaming. -
20. Chang Feng Du
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
Who's your daddy?
An unlikely couple's journey in times of chaos. -
21. L'Ingegnoso
Chinese Drama - 2023, 36 episodes
Liar's Poker.
A new wuxia revenge conspiracy. -
22. A League of Nobleman
Chinese Drama - 2023, 29 episodes
Cat's paw.
Ancient conspiracy with lots of hot men. -
23. Back From the Brink
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
How to train your dragon koi.
A very comical and enjoyable xianxia. -
24. I Belonged to Your World
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
The saddest happy story.
An unconventional sci-fi romantic comedy. -
25. Brotherhood of Blades: Shadow of Mountain and River
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Dead men tell no tales.
An intense historical suspense thriller that is not for casual watchers. -
26. Warm on a Cold Night
Chinese Drama - 2023, 36 episodes
Lukewarm.
A fantasy conspiracy, mystery and romance. -
27. The Criminal Police Force
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
To the ends of the earth.
A suspenseful and chilling cop thriller. -
28. Faithful
Chinese Drama - 2023, 25 episodes
Those who seek revenge dig two graves.
A sobering and heart wrenching story about the high cost of justice. -
29. The Forbidden Flower
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Let life be beautiful like summer flowers...
When a first love meets a last love. -
30. Three-Body
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
The bugs will inherit the earth.
A contemplative exploration of the mysteries of the universe. -
31. Who Is He
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
The hunt for a serial killer.
An interesting police procedural based on two high profile true crimes. -
32. Miss Chun Is a Litigator
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
An appealing lawyer.
A little bit of mystery, romance and a smart ancient female litigator. -
33. The Mutations
Chinese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
An Oriental Odyssey.
A short fantasy suspense thriller. -
34. Wonderland of Love
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
How a leader of men becomes a follower of a woman.
A bland cocktail of romance and game of thrones. -
35. The Legend of Zhuohua
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
Women should not rule the world.
An funny empowerment rom com that turns into political melodrama in the back half. -
36. Gone with the Rain
Chinese Drama - 2023, 37 episodes
My dear, I don't give a damn.
A Tang dynasty Gone with the Wind. -
37. Hui Xiang
Chinese Drama - 2023, 13 episodes
Everybody lies.
A suspense thriller that turns into relationship counseling. -
38. Legend of Anle
Chinese Drama - 2023, 39 episodes
Dumbed down to the point of fatousness.
An impossibly boring revenge tale to avoid. -
39. Beauty of Resilience
Chinese Drama - 2023, 36 episodes
Identity Theft.
Just another vapid run-of-the-mill xianxia.