#gradienta on tv shows

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Straight Dramas - My favs in no particular order [1]

The Long Ballad (China, 2021, Historical Romance) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Damn, it was so good! I got interested in Historical dramas only because of this one. Maturing female lead, devoted male lead, gripping plot, cross-dressing for dessert - I love it all!

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (South Korea, 2021, Real Life Romance) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ So so so sooooo good! The female lead who's not an idiot, the male lead who's not in a hurry to fall to his knees for her, mutual attraction and bickering... And the smile of the male lead. Ohhh yeah. Similar vibe: Meet Yourself

It's Okay not to Be Okay (South Korea, 2020, Psychological Drama) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Honestly, after many FMVs I got to expect less depth, but there's just so much here. Family, personal growth, anger management, a lot of coping with personal trauma... Beautiful.

When the Weather Is Fine (South Korea, 2020, Real Life Romance) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I came for Seo Kang Joon, but I stayed for the drama. Damn, the storyline with sisters is strong! And the friendship one! And the adoptive family one!..

You Are My Hero (China, 2021, Romance, Drama) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ It's like "Descendants of the Sun", but with a better plot and characters. While I concede that Song Joong Ki was amazing in the Korean drama, everything else is better in the Chinese drama, imho. And, keeping in mind that I actually liked "Descendants of the Sun", this drama became a revelation.

HONORABLE MENTION:

You Are My Glory (China, 2021, Romance, Drama) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The gaming plot made it lose 1 star because I'm not a gamer. But everything else? Mature, inspired, amazing.

Lighter & Princess (China, 2022, Romance, Drama) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A "local genius" trope is not something I like, but "living after prison" plot is so good! Similar vibe: Forever Love

Skate Into Love (China, 2020, Comedy, Romance) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Again, the only thing that made the drama lose a star for me is sport in the plot, but I must say that many Chinese dramas about different professional areas are so inspired. GOOD for them.

Straight TV-dramas recs [1] [2] [3]

[liankuea]

Share your self care!

I was tagged by the lovely @ohbabycupcakes  💜😊

🌿 Favorite comfort food: Crunchy Cheddar Jalapeño Cheetos

🌼 Favorite alcohol (or hot drink!): Green tea

🌷 Favorite relaxing activity: Painting

🌸 Favorite fluffy/feel-good fic: I don’t really read fluffy fics... your girl likes angst lol

🌻 Favorite calming scent: Lavender 

🌺 Favorite relaxing (or uplifting) song: At the moment it’s Sweet Night by V 

🌵 Favorite white noise: Rain falling against the window

🍄 Favorite book to get lost in: The Wind's Twelve Quarters by Ursula K. Le Guin

💐 Favorite chill-out TV show: Not a very "chill" show, but Criminal Minds 

🌹 The best advice you’ve ever had: It's better to ask for help when you're struggling than to suffer alone 

Thank you for tagging me! I tag @musicdramalove @gradienta @thehuns-bubble-tea and anyone else who wants to do it! Spread positivity because we really need right now 💜

[vaynessa]

Share Your Self Care :)

Tagged by @gradienta :))

Favorite comfort food(s): Fiji organic apples / Alfredo Pasta 

Favorite alcohol (or hot drink): I’m going to go with a classic and say Hot Chocolate with marshmallows. 

Favorite relaxing activity: cuddle with my daughter, when she lets me. 

Favorite fluffy/feel-good fic: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Favorite calming scent: the smell of rain

Favorite relaxing (or uplifting) song: Claude Debussy: Clair De Lune ( i love how calming this song makes me.) 

Favorite white noise: rain outside my window

Favorite book to get lost in: The Harry Potter series 

Favorite chill-out TV show(s): Modern Family/ Schitt’s Creek / The 70′s Show

The best advice you’ve ever had: “don’t be a dumb ass” Red Forman the 70′s show. lol 

💕❤️💕

[gradienta]

Straight Dramas - My favs in no particular order [3]

My Liberation Notes (South Korea, 2022, Drama, Romance) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Heart-wrenchingly good, athough I did expect less reality in my fiction.

18 Again (South Korea, 2020, Romance, Drama) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Personal growth and family values! Ohhhh I love it. It's also the funniest drama I've seen in a while.

Happiness (South Korea, 2021, Thriller, Drama) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Gentle loving care with zombie apocalypse+murder in the background. I don't even know if I want to be like either from the main couple or have a relationship like theirs.

HONORABLE MENTION:

Dr. Romantic 2 (South Korea, 2020, Romance, Drama) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I came for the romance but stayed for the drama and power stuggles. -1 star because I expected more from the romantic line. THE PLOT THOUGH!!!

Le Coup de Foudre (China, 2019, Romance, Comedy) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ So cute! -1 star because of the second couple was not for me.

She and Her Perfect Husband (China, 2022, Romance) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ -1 for the ending, but everything else was cute and lovely, and I got a second-lead syndrome. I'm going to use "You thought for 3 seconds before anwering, and now you're my enemy" line in my life.

Straight TV-dramas recs [1] [2] [3]

[gradienta]

Straight Dramas - My favs in no particular order [2]

The Glory Part 1, Part 2 (South Korea, 2022, Thriller, Drama) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Simply amazing. I was on the edge of my seat all the time! The revenge felt so sweet.

Hyena (South Korea, 2020, Romance, Drama, Law) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ It will forever be in the top list of my favourite dramas ever. Scorching hot and smart. It has ALL the feelings. All of them. Damn.

Vincenzo (South Korea, 2021, Crime, Drama, Comedy) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ REVENGE? REVENGE! At first I dropped the show after the first episode, but then I watched several FMVs, saw that Carrie scene and came back. Never regretted it ever.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

The Warp Effect (Thailand, 2022, Comedy, Romance) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The humour was too much for me at times, but the ending was so amazing I forgot about everything else. It's wrapped up so nicely.

Another Miss Oh (South Korea, 2016, Comedy, Romance, Supernatural) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ While the main female lead is the reason why it's not a five-star drama for me, I liked the progression and the idea.

The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (South Korea, 2018, Thriller, Romance, Drama) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ooohhh, it's TENSE, and there are no good characters there. It compells me though...

Arsenal Military Academy (China, 2019, Action, Historical, Romance) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The action plot wasn't really what I'm interested in (-1 star), but the relationship between the leads is very sweet in a teenage way.

Sh**ting Stars (South Korea, 2022, Comedy, Romance) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I really loved the way the backstory was revealed gradually, misleading the audience. Neat tricks you have there. Same with "Tale of the Nine-Tailed".

Straight TV-dramas recs [1] [2] [3]

[gradienta]

Love and Leashes / The Grandmaster of Diabolism (Parallels)

I can't help but think of their similarities.

Firstly, the female lead looks a bit like Wáng Yībó from the Untaimed. Secondly, the characters of Lan Zhan and Jiwoo are kind of similar in a reserved and controlling way.

Then they both have affectionate romantic leads running after them, they both fall first. Next, they are kinky.

Lastly, their partners confess their feelings right in front of everybody's salad.

[gradienta]

Les Chansons d'amour (2007)

I still think about it, and I don't even like musicals. ALL of the soundtracks are in my playlist.

[gradienta]

Cross Dressing in dramas

I love "Arsenal Military Academy" and "The Long Ballad". The only thing that could make the plots better would be the bisexuality of some characters.

The male lead looks at girls flirting with the crossdressing female lead and thinks it's funny WHILE HE SHOULD BE WORRIED. I want to see "Haha, they are just girls being girls" transforming into "What. What, wait a minute, WHAT IS HAPPENING???"

Where are my bisexual queens at?

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Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha - EP7

I didn't expect a hint of a bisexual (?) polycule :D I wish they explored that more, but judging by the spoilers they didn't.

It would be so chaotic and fun.