#then I see his the lead in another cdrama (that I never finished)(my journey to you)

[ifeelfreewithoutmyshoes]

I’ve finally found a Chinese drama where I really like the female lead

[fairytalelovedramas]

Asian Drama Watchlist & Review for Jan 2020

Wow, got through a lot of shows and films this month compared to my norm (probably due to my lack of a social life, but meh, that’s beside the point)!!!

So here are my thoughts and reviews for the shows I watched in January...  probably not going to be completely spoiler free

And yeah this got long, so putting my reviews below the break so it doesn’t take up the whole wall!!

Finished Watching this month:

1) Ashes of Love

Wowww, what a journey this show takes you on!!  It took me awhile to get through, as I often find with Fantasy CDramas, as I find it hard to binge too many eps at a time, but I was hooked from the start!  I love the actors, the characters, I loved the leads but fell in love with several side characters as well, the angst gave you all the feels, there were plenty of funny moments, and the love stories really made your heart flutter (I especially fell in love with the side love story, which is rare for me!).  Really loved this one!

Where I watched: Viki, also on Netflix

2) TharnType the Series

Hands down one of my favorite BL couples!!  Their chemistry is out of this world.  Are there problematic parts of the show?  Yes, most definitely, especially near the beginning, but their connection and sweet moments are worth it, and honestly I just made up my own head cannon where those parts don’t exist haha!!  I LOVE this couple, they way they look at each other and all the touches, ugh it just does things to me!!  And their acting was fabulous, I fell in love with Mew (more than I already was) and Gulf as well!

Where I watched: Links to Line TV (found on Official TharnType Twitter)

4) Coffee & Vanilla

Skinship, Skinship, Skinship!!  From ep 1, I was like woah!  So I started this one because I saw the 2 leads in Good Morning Call and think Dori Sakurada is just a beautiful human being and had SLS big time, so was curious to see him get the girl this time!!  And yeah he didn’t disappoint, he’s gorgeous and whoooo did that boy have some kinks!  Honestly, I thought their chemistry was good and I thoroughly enjoyed all the skinship scenes, if anything I would have been happy to see more of his kinky side actually get reciprocated haha!!  I personally enjoy a clingy, head-over-heels in love ML, and am for the alpha-male/innocent girl dynamic, and that’s exactly what you get!!!

I can see why this show wouldn’t be for everyone though, it has problematic parts for sure! It has a really weak FL who doesn’t really have a lot of character growth (despite her saying at the end she got stronger, I was like really??  fooled me!  but at least she’s aware of her weakness??), but her “innocent” character is one of the things that drives the story so it didn’t bother me that much.  I could have done without so much manhandling (by pretty much every male in the series).  I could see how it could be triggering for some.  I also thought she had the worst best friend in the world and was way too forgiving.  But if you can get over these points, I enjoyed it quite a lot! I may make some gifs for this one since there are several scenes I liked and no one seems to be making any!!

Where I watched: Viki

3) He is Psychometric

So this was different than I expected.  Not bad by any means, just different.  I was expecting more romance, more healing from shared trauma, etc.  Maybe I was hoping it would be a bit more like Just Between Lovers after seeing that first ep and the trauma?  But I know nothing will ever replace that show in my heart, it will always be a fave!  Anyways, this wasn’t like that one haha!  It was a lot more mystery/crime genre than anything, which isn’t my fave, but there were a few sweet moments and the acting was sooo good and by the time I realized the romance & story wasn’t really what I was expecting I was drawn into the mystery I had to know how it ended!

Where I watched: Viki

5) Theory of Love

I love OffGun as celebrities and in their variety shows, but never saw them in a series so decided to give this one a go!  Wow, I totally ended up in a major binge session with this one!! I didn’t want to stop watching!  I’ve always thought Gun was a cutie, but after seeing him act I have a whole new respect for him.  Did I think it was one of the best BL stories I’ve seen?  No.  But they have great chemistry and it was a cute story overall!  Really enjoyed this one!!

Where I watched: YouTube (GMM channel)

6) Dark Blue Kiss

I’ve seen the various Kiss prequels so was excited about this one!  Honestly, I felt the MorkSun story overpowered PeteKao a bit but am not complaining as I loved both stories!  There were a lot of sweet moments and just enough angst to keep you interested.  But above all, I have to say the superstars of the series were the parents!!  The acceptance every person should get, open talks about sex and condoms, advocating for your child, I mean it really doesn’t get much better!  It hit on many important lgbtq topics and for that alone I thought it was very well-done!  All the couples were very cute and made me root for them!

Where I watched: YouTube (GMM channel)

7) Love by Chance (rewatch)

In prep for the 2nd season I decided to rewatch LBC in a binge session!  Oh my goodness, I forgot how much I missed AePete, I fell in love with them big time the first time around and all of that just came rushing back.  I’m reeeally going to miss Pete in season 2!!!  Their relationship is just so healthy compared to most in the BL world and their chemistry is sooo good!!  They better at least let them stay happy and in love even if Pete is abroad!!  I admit I was never one to get crazy about TinCan, but knowing they’ll be the center of season 2 I watched their scenes more closely and definitely felt a stronger pull for them this time around.  I’m very excited to see how their story continues!!!!

Where I watched: Youtube (Studio Wabi Sabi channel)

8) The Hows of Us

This filipino film stars one of my fave love teams... KathNeil!!  I love their films and that they are a reel to real couple as well!!  I enjoyed this movie a lot, it was more mature than many of their previous works together and showed how they’ve been growing.  It wasn’t a typical falling in love story that ends when the couple gets together but explores how couples grow apart and how real life can sometimes get in the way of our dreams.  I found the film relatable and also optimistic.  And I love the pining and longing looks... that always gets me and there was a lot of it in this film!!

Where I watched: TFC

9) Hotel Del Luna

This is what kdramas are all about - Superb acting, gorgeous cinematography, interesting characters, beautiful OST, the whole production was incredible!  It wasn’t my favorite story ever and it took me several months to finish but it kept puliing my back in and I finally got through it.  I really was mesmerized each ep by how beautiful the whole thing was.  I liked the back story and all the fun side characters. And I swear it was worth watching just for IU’s costumes, hair, and different styles alone!!  I didn’t love the ending, that was my biggest complaint, I guess you could call it “open?”  I just think it could have wrapped up better, but overall it was a beautiful series!

Where I watched: Viki

10) Itsuka, Nemuri Ni Tsuku Hi (Someday When I Fall Asleep)

Wow what a trippy series.  It was short enough to binge in one afternoon and it looked interesting, so that’s exactly what I did.  It was intriguing from the start and there was a mystery about it that kept my interest, it was a bit creepy at times, and had some twists I totally was NOT expecting at all.  Overall it was one of those that made me think and ponder for awhile after, but it did make me a bit sad too, so only watch if you’re willing to experience some feels, but it was a good one and I’m glad I stumbled upon it!

Where I watched: Viki

Currently Watching for Feb:

1) Guardian (woah, another good “bromance” with all those looks!)

2) The Untamed (rewatch - and so far it’s even BETTER the 2nd time around!!!)

3) ‘Cause You’re My Boy (cute so far)

4) Moment of Eighteen (my Astro loving heart was so excited to see Moonbin!!)

5) Until We Meet Again The Series (so many feeeels)

6) Why R U? The Series (jury is still out but I LOVE Saint!)

7) Itaewon Class (super excited for this one, Park Seo Joon, need I say more?!)

8) Crash Landing on You (excellent so far!)

9)  Make it With You (filipino series starring my FAVE love team, LizQuen!!)

[dangermousie]

Your top 10 favorite cdramas?

This only includes cdramas that finished airing and of which I watched enough to make up my own mind.  No order.

1. Return of the Condor Heroes (2006) - the version with Huang Xiaoming and Liu Yifei was my first cdrama, my gateway drug. It took me forever to figure out what was going on but it was so beautiful and I shipped the leading characters so hard. Still love it.

2. Legend of the Condor Heroes - the Hu Ge and Ariel Lin version. This one has everything - fights, evil evil villains, cool OTPs, smart heroines, tragic antiheroes (Yuan Hong almost steals the show as Yang Kang.) It’s a perfect pick me up.

3. The Three Kingdoms (2010) - this puppy is 95 eps, spans over 100 years and features a lot of bearded men talking at each other. It also has eye popping battles, an OTP to die for (brief but memorable), and a villain protagonist that is so magnetic and irresistible that you will root for him anyway - Cao Cao.

4. The Princess Weiyoung - revenge, true love, and some awesome outfits. Pretty much a fairy tale for grown-ups.

5. The Myth - still my favorite cdrama. Smart and romantic and tragic. It is the only drama that made me cry so hard I threw up, fair warning.

6. Strange Hero Yi Zi Mei - probably the best version of Robin Hood ever.

7. Bu Bu Jing Xin - tragic, romantic, complicated, and jaw-droopingly beautiful.

8. Gong - everybody loves to hate Yu Zheng, but this “Boys Over Flowers Goes Qing” drama is basically addictive on another level and has all the drama and giggles and OTP you may want. Oh the OTP!!! (Also, it’s probably the first time Domyouji made sense to me - he’s an actual Qing prince, of course he sees everyone else as lesser.)

9. King of Lan Ling - romaaaaaance! aaaaaangst! prettinessssss! Basically a shoujo manga come to life and I will never get over the fact that Feng Shao Feng is supposed to be literally too pretty to show his face in battle and fights under a mask. 

10. The Young Warriors of Yang Clan - perfect perfect perfect. And will break your heart. 

Dramas that may make the list once I see more of them (what I saw of them is promising but I haven’t seen enough) - Mulan (with Dylan Kuo), Legen of Qin, Too Late to Say I Love You, the Lady and the Liar, Detective Tanglang, Love Me If You Dare, The Imperial Doctoress, Journey of Flower, The Mystic Nine, the Virtuous Queen of Han, General and I, Nirvana in Fire, Cloud in Song, Hua Xi Yin, the Four, the Legend of Zu, the Legend of Chusen.