Favorite Dramas ♡
[ ranked in order ]
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1. Light on Series: The Bad Kids
Chinese Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
Favorite Character | None are inherently favorable
Speechless. Phenomenal. Finally, a drama that has topped The Untamed for me. The perfect amount of grisly psychological twists, a gradual building of higher stakes, grey complex characters, incredible acting from both adults and children, and an ending that makes you question everything you thought you knew while watching. The ambiguity is awe-inducing. Whether you want to believe things to be one way or things to be another is entirely up to your own perspective, something I have NEVER seen in a drama before. Surely this isn't one I'm going to be able to forget for a long, long time.
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2. The Untamed
Chinese Drama - 2019, 50 episodes
Favorite Character | Wei Wuxian / Wei Ying
I went to see the hype and I found it. Perhaps I got addicted because of my love for Xiao Zhan, but the Untamed also came with an intriguing and sometimes shocking storyline. Came for the bromance, left with a work of art. Despite there being many flaws, it's a drama that means a lot to me and by the last plot twist, I sat there sobbing inside. If only I could ever experience it again in the same way.
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3. Kazoku Game
Japanese Drama - 2013, 10 episodes
Favorite Character | Sensei
I really thought I wasn't going to fall into the crowd of 10s this drama received, but by the end of ep 1, I knew it deserved it. Never have I felt more satisfied in a story from start to end. With a compelling premise and looming overhead mystery, it brilliantly touched upon (and broke down) societal familial constructs and how the upbringing of a child determines the rest of their life. Sensei is one of the most intriguing characters I've seen. You can never tell what he's thinking or what he's planning next. Both terrifying and comforting at the same time, you never know if you should support him or fear him, which perfectly mirrors the family's thoughts as well. Overall, loved it to bits. Shocking how it could all fit into a mere 10 eps.
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4. Rocket Boy Squad
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
Favorite Character | Bang Yoon Dam? Na Woo Chan? Han Se Yoon?
I turned Racket Boys on with the full intention of dropping it. It was a drama I kept struggling to start. I probably watched the opening scene 6+ different times before actually watching the rest and never in my life would I have thought I'd be so engrossed. As someone who grew up playing team sports, this hit like home. It was nostalgic, heartwarming, and exciting all in one. The badminton games were shown so perfectly and the individual struggles each member faced fleshed out the characters. The growing friendships, esp with Han Geuru, made this watch feel like home. They truly felt like my family at one point. Surely one of the best found families I've even gotten the pleasure to watch. I'm so grateful past me decided to keep watching, otherwise I never would've gotten to experience such a comforting story.
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5. I Told Sunset About You
Thai Drama - 2020, 5 episodes
Favorite Character | Oh-aew
Another hyped 10 that I agree with. I have never watched a drama that could pack so much symbolism into each episode and not use a SINGLE flashback. There was no hand-holding and yet as a viewer, you could understand all of them. I swear it made me feel smart. No, the storyline isn't a masterpiece and yes, most of its praise is through the cinematography. Still, cinematography comes with camerawork, directing, producing, screenwriting, editing, etc. All of this created a stellar piece of work with too many iconic scenes to count. A true beauty,
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6. One Piece
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
Favorite Character | Roronoa Zoro
WIP
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7. Our Beloved Summer
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
Favorite Character | hmmm Eun Ho?
This drama's audience is split over whether it has realistic character depictions or not, and I am on the side that says it does. I just love how each character had their flaws, opinions, and perspectives with reasons that fully justified their actions. None of them felt like tropes or cliches. They felt REAL to me. Despite the angst, it never felt frustrating, nor did it feel slow (though I could see how it could to some). Every episode felt engaging to the point where I couldn't look away. I typically watch on 2x speed and yet I only watched on 1x in fear that I'd miss a moment. I'm not sure how to summarize the impact this had on me. It was healing, sad, and hopeful all in one bundle. All in all: I loved it.
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8. Bad Buddy
Thai Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
Favorite Character | Pa ♡
This was not a revolutionary story, nor did it have the best side characters ever. A lot of it felt like filler (cough first half) or angsty pointless fighting; but there's a reason it's on my favorites list. Ohm and Nanon have insane chemistry. You won't find a more natural couple than them. And this drama does one of the rarest things I've seen: being together makes them both stronger. In an industry filled with romances that feel doomed to be in, they shoot out break ups left and right. Yet, Bad Buddy does the opposite. They don't hold onto common cliches, offensive tropes, or the infamous breakup scene near the end. Instead, they truly love one another and stick to it. They never feel toxic or eye-roll-inducing. It's true love masked in pure fluff. Definitely one of a kind.
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9. Move to Heaven
Korean Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
Favorite Character | Han Geu Ru
GORGEOUS, BEAUTIFUL, EMOTIONAL. There's so much to say about Move to Heaven I could never fit it all here. I started with the intention to drop, yet I got sucked in almost immediately. The sudden cut to black at the end of each ep (+ the music) would leave me speechless. It's powerful, it's emotional, it's heartbreaking. Learning about the stories of each person was a severely bittersweet ride. They finally got closure, but they couldn't experience it for themselves. At least for me, it made me appreciate my life and the people around me a lot more. Also witnessing Sanggu and Geuru's growing relationship felt extremely fulfilling and heart-warming. So so close to a 10, if not for the confusing ending.
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10. Some Day or One Day
Taiwanese Drama - 2019, 13 episodes
Favorite Character | LI ZI WEI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A complex and beautifully told story about love and loss. Despite the foundation of time loops and body-swapping being a complicated plot, the story was fantastically worked until all the puzzle pieces fell into place. The OST heavily stood out, esp the intro song. Listening to it now just gives me pain. Li Zi Wei is also one of the greatest characters of all time and he completely owns my heart. It's honestly worth the watch just for him alone. No one else could ever compare. The major downfall I had was with its slightly disappointing ending, but I also don't know how else they could have ended it so it didn't bother me too much.
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11. Smoking
Japanese Drama - 2018, 12 episodes
Favorite Character | Hifuman
One of the most spectacular found families I've watched. Certainly not for the soft-stomached. Yet through its dark character exploration, and underneath the extreme bloodshed, there was so much heart to be found. I loved this contrast more than anything. The way they so brilliantly balanced the caring brotherhood with the grisly assassinations. Short in length, yet heavy in content. One of the greatest hidden gems I ever got the pleasure of experiencing. If I ever got the chance, I'd want to experience it all over again.
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12. Because This is My First Life
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
Favorite Character | Yoon Ji Ho
I've seen many call this boring and while I can definitely see where the criticisms arise from, I can overlook it because of how meaningful the main message is to me. As someone who is more than confused and skeptical over the thought of marriage, it was a wonder to finally see a drama explore the intricacies and what it TRULY means to be "married." You don't just put a ring on and suddenly have a happy ending. I loved the emotional social commentary. Realistic romance at its finest.