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Only really good recs in this post but if you want to watch Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms I would recommend not watching through official means as it is a product of plagiarism and homophobic censorship. For more information you can check this out: https://www.tumblr.com/butterfliesandresistance/741051010318991360/the-product-of-plagiarism-ten-miles-of-peach

Pre-2020 Cdrama List

Okay, because I made my earlier post about how I really do think more people in the cdrama fandom should watch pre-2020 cdramas.

(why 2020? it's a nice round year, but also, there was a big censorship overhaul around 2020-2021. Plus I feel like 2020-21 was when there was the influx into the cdrama fandom.)

Anyways - categories purely by me and not at all scientific. I have more, but I tried to keep this list to things that (I think) have subs.

The Prestige:

Legend of Zhen Huan: yes, harem dramas aren't everyone's thing and I acknowledge it. But if you are going to watch one harem drama, make it this one. It is one of IMO the best character study revenge plot in cdramaland that really explores the concept of patriarchy and power and sisterhood. Bonus, certain scenes in more recent cdramas will suddenly click because Zhen Huan is *that* influential. One note: I recommend the viki version, which the subtitle team does a wonderful job in explaining the context for the numerous poetry that the characters use.

The Story of Minglan: you know the story of the unfavored daughter getting revenge on her evil stepmother and then finding love with a hot noblemen? yes, this is the OG. Except everyone is fleshed out and 3D and you feel like you're watching real people.

Battle of Changsha (available on YouTube, no idea where else): Republic era/WW2 epic, so utterly real, so utterly heartbreaking, flawlessly written and acted. Yang Zi's best work to date, IMO.

(I'll put in Nirvana in Fire and Advisor's Alliance -- but I"ll be honest -- male centric stories tend not to be my cup of tea even if they are very well made, but I can acknowledge that the quality is there.)

The Idol Historical (aka my genre):

Scarlet Heart (no, not the k-drama version that I slowly grew a grudge against. The OG cdrama with Liu Shi Shi, currently available on Iqiyi): it borderlines prestige (TM) for me, but it's categorized as an idol historical so I'll address it as such. Modern girl transmigrate to Qing dynasty, and the writing is so cerebral and it's ultimately a thought-provoking piece about keeping one's sense of self and identity, and the difficulty choices we make along the way. You don't have to ship anyone to enjoy this drama. Ignore the sequel.

Goodbye My Princess (I know there's an English version on YouTube): a grand romantic tragedy (I'm putting that in open disclaimer) about how a murderous bastard soft for one girl trope and love isn't enough. The fact that the ML is also the villain. And then get salty about Cheng Xingxu (ML's actor)'s subsequent projects with me. (addendum - if you enjoy this, the King's Woman with Zhang Binbin and Dilreba is also excellent).

Singing all along (I have a separate genre called "Ruby Lin dramas"): it's a fictionalized story of Emperor Guangwu of Han and Yin Lihua, and it definitely has the most resemblance to post 2020 idol historical romances, except the harem plot which is historically accurate and added some fantastic tension. I also adore the costuming, which had some heft (TM) to it.

Not Necessarily Quality but Fun (bonus: MLs are now uncles/fathers to the current batch idol dramas):

The Glamorous Imperial Doctress (on Netflix): is it quality? I'm not sure, but if you are watching the Princess's Gambit and wondering if you can take off all hinges, congratulations! I don't even know how to describe it, other than ... it's unhinged but in the most entertaining way. ML gets chained in a palace by SML.

General and I (on Viki): does it have bad blue/green screen? yes. Can Angelababy act? not really. Does she and Wallace Chung have insane chemistry and this drama is a romance novel coming to life with surprisingly a complicated story involving the SML? absolutely. (I have a whole list of Wallace Chung dramas, including My Sunshine and Too Late to Say I Love You, but I do think General and I seem to be a good starting point if you are used to watching post 2020 idol historical).

...don't ask me about xianxia, because it's not my genre. Although Chinese Paladin 3 (available now on Iqiyi) is fun with a legendary cast (seriously, the cast). Or wuxia, for that matter. Or moderns. But if you do want harem drama recommendations, I have about 5 more.

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You have transmigrated into a random Nirvana in Fire character

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Cmm for @cheetahing

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.

Explain your answer

No kissing just fighting.

Don't be rude.

They can only use their hands and feet in this fight.

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I loooove the hc that Viktor came back to lab later to check on Jayce only to find it empty. Because. If we think about it, Viktor met Jayce seven years ago when he was about to off himself from a building, and left him a few days ago when he was obviously in a terrible mental state only to go back and find the lab empty. Even his mother does not know where he went. What could Viktor think happened here. Hm.

The "Jayce, I feared that I would not have the chance to speak with you again" when Jayce come back from the anomaly can have a whole other meaning in this context.

Tags by @fuckyeahisawthat tyyyy

Thing is, Viktor might downplay it in front of other people (specifically for jayces sake), but that doesnt mean hes not TERRIFIED of dying. Yes, his reaction after waking up in the hospital and simply going "how much time do i have" seems pretty detached, but im convinced that was bc he already knew he was dying (given his frazzled reaction to Heimerdinger saying hextech could take another decade) and also he wanted to look strong in front of jayce.

But we can see how hard and desperately he is trying to find a cure, he hasnt "made peace" with his fate, he does not want to die!

Later he is lamenting to Heimerdinger about how his contributions havent been enough and will eventually be forgotten, which is odd, considering he literally contributed to the return of magic and the hexgates alone must have been such a gigantic gamechanger even just looking at trading or shipping alone.

Now ofc you could interpret it as him being disappointed that he hadnt made a name for himself the way jayce did or that he is bitter about only jayce being hailed as the inventor of hextech, but we never actually see him be resentful about not getting any public attention or accolades, in fact he explicitly turns down the opportunity to present their work alongside jayce. So that cant be it.

I think his feeling about "not mattering" in the grand scheme comes from two places.

One: we know Viktor and jayce see stuff like the hexgates, as monumental as they may be, as frivolous and theyd much rather improve the lives of ordinary people. Viktor probably feels like so far he has only made the rich richer and he wont be able to help common people, especially in zaun, as much as he wanted to.

Two: his talk about "contributions" being forgotten isnt actually only about his work. I think he is terrified that jayce, the person closest to him, will move on and forget about him after his death. Him desperately throwing himself into hexcore research is of course kicked off by his terminal diagnosis, but it also coincides with Jayce taking on councilor duties, having to make decisions that are against their shared moral compass and starting a relationship with mel. This doesnt even have to be romantic jealousy, just imagine your best friend, your closest person, your PARTNER, gets a massive promotion, starts acting against principles you thought you shared AND gets in a relationship while youre told you have weeks or months left.

Ofc i see viktor having romantic feelings for jayce on top of all that, but even if you dont see it that way, viktor is seeing jayce becoming a councilor and neglecting their work (something jayce himself clearly sees as abandonment in retrospect) he sees jayce adapting his moral compass to be more appropriate to his new station and hes seeing himself possibly being replaced as jayces "partner". He knows jayce isnt a bad person and would never outright leave him when hes this close to death, but of course he would think jayce would move on to bigger and better things after his death.

He was so terrified of dying alone, abandoned, unappreciated and forgotten which is why its so incredible that jayce made sure he stayed with him in the end.

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If you choose other it's gotta be along the lines, like that game where you have to paint a map and the same color can't touch, don't come to my house all like "uhhh i played pinball"

Also there's no "none of these" option bc if you didn't become obsessed at some point with a kinda nerdy easily addictive offline game that will suck your soul until you can't think about anything else but the game for weeks then you are a fucking pussy and I don't respect you

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xiao shunyao is so handsome that it makes the character of di feisheng unintentionally hilarious. the great demon of the jinyuan alliance is also a stone cold drop dead gorgeous ten rocking a pair of 505 "busty beauty" lashes who dresses like he's the jianghu's scarface and every day is a yacht party. li lianhua jerking awake saying "di feisheng!" should be answered by a non-plussed fang duobing being like yeah yeah the breathtaking evil hottie we've all had those spring dreams. every single character should be doing a double-take when they see him not because of his evil aura or whatever but because he looks like the kind of man rogue spirits try to disrobe and impregnate. when he arrives at wanmian's wedding there should be a cut to yun biqiu or whoever cattily being like "zamn zijin cant catch a break his bride is a lesbian AND the wedding crasher is total hottie di feisheng? i'd kill myself." he should eat free at every inn and be brushing aside fresh floral arrangements. but because we live in opposite land and i guess the "plot" is important he has to loom unacknowledged in the background like a sexy albatross

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The Letter from the Cloud (2022)

made some gifs for @be-bi-do-crime for @cdrama-action! I haven't seen this show but now I very much want to

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The foam was not as gross looking irl😂😭

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The First Shot | Found him.

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Random Vi hc is that she is really good at chess and other similar strategy games. She learned as a kid from Benzo and ended up being better at it than him or Ekko or Vander. Now she plays with Caitlyn because it help both of them relax.

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Man this fandom is not weird enough about Wen Ning & Wei Wuxian’s relationship

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