To all of my followers: I am currently in the chokehold of Asian dramas. I am too lazy and too inept to create a side blog.
As a recovering American serial watcher (looking at you, X-Files and Arrow), I am appreciative of the one season template: character intro, a little angst, happy ending in 36 episodes or (usually) less.
Also the slowest of slow burns - but you get something within a dozen EPISODES not SEASONS.
And if youโre not currently watching Asian dramas (especially Korean and Chinese), Iโll recommend a sampling that I just CANNOT let go of. Chemistry is ๐ฅ. FL is strong. ML never fails the FL. Arranged marriage. Friends to lovers. Enemies to lovers. They have it ALL.
Prerequisites:
Happy ending.
Great chemistry - including kisses, etc.
No cheating/limited love triangles. Leads are ride or die.
Music: has to be good (those who know me are not surprised). Cdrama OST king is Liu Yuning (see TPoB in my rec list below). Heโs everywhere on OSTs.
No gifs as Iโm watching football and drinking bourbon right now.
Korean
Crash Landing on You (my first Asian drama during Covid): South Korean FL CEO ends up captured by North Korean forces. Supporting cast is ๐ฏ and the leadsโ chemistry is off the charts because -DUH- they married in real life after the show aired.
Healer: very Arrow-ish. Tough, isolated, brooding, badass male lead; smart cute female lead. Great family dynamics and the SML is pretty hot too. Parkours like Roy Harper.
Whatโs Wrong with Secretary Kim: closed off, traumatized CEO (who is unable to be intimate with women). Bubbly, smart, driven assistant. He cannot do anything without her and has been secretly in love with her for YEARS.
Strong Woman Do Bong Soon: took me a bit to get used to the way kdramas are styled (can come off goofy and off putting if youโre unfamiliar). Itโs a superhero type show but the ML is such a simp for our female lead. Youโll see a lot of the actors in this show in other kdramas.
When the Phone Rings: opinions are divided. Came for the interesting plot, stayed for the incredible chemistry and OST. Arranged political marriage, damaged male lead, strong FL lead even though she grew up unloved and mentally abused.
Perfect Marriage Revenge: without spoiling - devoted hot ML. Helps FL get revenge on her POS family.
Chinese
The Prisoner of Beauty: The first cdrama that had me obsessed. Liu Yuning and Song Zuer scorched the screen. OST ๐ฏ and hotness level ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ. Another arranged marriage but with an enemies to lovers arc.
The Best Thing: super soft. My intro to Zhang Linghe. FL suffers from insomnia and a POS boyfriend. In steps a TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) doctor to treat her. Questionable medical ethics? Yes. But he more than makes up for it in his love and devotion to the FL. Great OST.
Love in the Clouds (still airing): I was in a TPoB endless loop of rewatching until this one. Donโt know the ending but standouts: ML goes all in with FL. No unnecessary angst, love triangles. These two actually (mostly) communicate. Very intimate.
We all think we want the high-stakes friction of enemies-to-lovers or will-they-wonโt-they until a show like Pursuit of Jade comes along and reminds us that watching two people actually be good to each other from the get go is surprisingly addictive.
I havenโt cheered out loud and LOVED a cast this much (good AND evil) since Prisoner of Beauty (honorable mention to Love in the Clouds). And the writing? ๐ ๐ซฐ
