coreancitizen

[coreancitizen]

💉Healer 힐러 (2014-2015) — ep. 06 | Begin   

[coreancitizen]

OMG hahaha Gyeon-U's face! I'm a couple of episodes behind. This still from I guess episode 6 (?) is taking me out ... can I just say how much I'm enjoying the friendship between these two babies?

[coreancitizen]

You started it.

HEAD OVER HEELS 견우와 선녀 (2025)

[coreancitizen]

I like the way they are handing possible suicide so far

The visual difference too between him dwelling in bad thoughts and remembering a person who loved him

[coreancitizen]

You want to know why I follow you around? Kids should be protected by adults, but you protect yourself. That's why I want to be nice to you. Can I do that? Is it pity? It's friendship.

HEAD OVER HEELS 견우와 선녀 (2025)

[coreancitizen]

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.

[coreancitizen]

Have you stopped watching Korean dramas? I was checking out your blog to see what your latest reccs are but I only see Chinese dramas lately.

Anon, hi ... no, I haven't stopped watching. It's just that these days it's more like re-watching favorite bits of the dramas I love. My head is too muddled with work that nothing seems to really be grabbing and holding my attention recently. Though I have a watch list (Good Boy, When Life Gives You Tangerines, Unwritten Seoul, Our Movie, Resident Playbook, etc.) that keeps growing LOL. I think this weekend I may start that new one with the girl shaman because I like the FL and the ML looks familiar (wasn't he a veterinarian in a short drama?). We'll see.

And I can't even recc Chinese dramas because I have yet to finish one! Well, actually, I did finish "Romance on the Farm" and that was cute, once you get past the evil relatives (and I actually did, to my surprise. I thought I was gonna stop watching around episodes 6-7).

I enjoyed the early parts "Prisoner of Beauty" but I started to lose interest even before I got spoiled about a couple of deaths. I'm 10 episodes into "A Dream Within A Dream" and I'm about ready to give up because the FL is annoying me. She's not stupid, I don't think, but she's a bit ... this is such an old fashioned word but I think it fits, batty. I've really enjoyed Liu Yuning in these series though so I'm hoping I find a series of his I can actually watch until the very end.

Aaaaaand I just realized you weren't asking about Chinese drama reccs but I already wrote all that so *shrugs.

[coreancitizen]

I truly hate the word "unalive." There are so many other euphemisms that fictional Italian mobsters worked so hard to provide you with and you just ignore them.

[coreancitizen]

This woman in "A Dream Within A Dream" is reminding me of some of the more vocal fans of actors, who insist "in 900 scenes, I hope all the major scenes and highlight focus on the male lead. Let the male lead solve any problems and difficulties. Make the audience fall for the male lead." 😅

[coreancitizen]

Kim Go Eun for luxury beauty service R.Lux

[coreancitizen]

Chasing Jade’s new trailer 

“You saved my life. I will surely repay you in the future.”

[coreancitizen]

Love Between Fairy & Devil (2022)

These shots are just some of my favorites, they’re so pretty together.

[coreancitizen]

Cdrama: Zhu Yu (2025?)

Xie Zheng kissing reuters 🔥 #zhanglinghe #tianxiwei #chasingjade #chinesedrama

Watch this video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZWNb2VTcEG4

[coreancitizen]

If he could give his life, how could he ever let her suffer the slightest grievance in the complex society of the capital? ... If she could inspire such willing devotion from him, what right did others have to judge whether she was good enough or worthy? — Gongsun Yin's thoughts in Chapter 73, "Chasing Jade" webnovel

[coreancitizen]

Kim Go Eun and Steve Noh promoting "Love in the Big City" in Japan on June 12, 2025.

[coreancitizen]

250623 | Zhang Linghe Studio

[coreancitizen]

Tian Xiwei’s photoshoot for Guardians of the Dafeng