completed dramas and SPs《2020》

• started: january 27
• completed: january 28

• started: january 10
• completed: january 29

• started: february 8 
• completed: february 19

The cases were episodic, but the ways the three confidence man conned the rich were so far from being predictable. The last case, in particular, totally threw me for a loop. Best part of the drama was how their tricks were carefully planned: they studied their targets, set their stage up, and hired actors. Their large-scale confidence tricks took a lot of time, effort and money (ex: they sometimes showed how much money they were left with after deducting all their expenses). Super fun and unpredictable!

○ started and finished: march 1

Followers is a beautiful drama bursting with vivid colors and a bold sense of fashion. It openly touches subjects such as sex, the LGBT community, women being career-driven, women suffering from breast cancer, women wanting kids but not marriage or couples not being able to conceive, and older women dating younger men—with no prejudice.

Overall, it is not only a drama that shows the glitz, the glamour and the downside (pressure, insecurities, disconnection from reality, etc.) of social media, it is also an empowering drama that shows what it means to be a woman in a modern society. This is a drama made by a woman for women.

○ started and finished: march 10

• started: march 2
• completed: march 18
• watched while airing

If my weekly update was not obvious enough, Koi wa Tsuzuku yo Doko Made mo was a drama that I dearly loved. It had the typical shoujo elements, a tsundere male lead and a head-over-heels female lead, but there was so much heart and sweetness in it.

Kamishiraishi Mone absolutely nailed the naive and loveable Sakura Nanase. She may have been overly expressive on her love for Tendo, but she knew her boundaries. Like what she said, her crush on Tendo may have been what pushed her to pursue her chosen career, but seeing him save someone also ignited her passion and gave her the drive to become a good nurse. It was so rewarding to see Nanase freeze in emergency situations to actually handling it with ease and calm, and giving her best afterwards. As for Satoh Takeru, Tendo Kairi may have been a reminiscent of an old school tsundere, but he still managed to show his versatility as an actor (see: end of episode 9). Tendo sensei was not only really professional, but also sweet, caring and vulnerable.

○ started and finished: march 15

• started while airing: october 21, 2019
• continued: march 5 (episode 3)
• completed: march 21

○ started and finished: march 29

• started: march 30
• completed: april 3.

The drama had a pretty strong start but it slowly faded away as soon as the cases became episodic and not connected to the main one. Most probably caused by the inconsistent pacing and less cohesive writing, especially at the second half of the drama. Overall, Tell Me What You Saw had its emotional moments but it definitely lacked something. Ending was also rushed; the aftermath (trial, verdict, etc.) was not shown.

• started: april 14
• completed: april 15

What a surprise. SOTUS has got to have the slowest, but most well-developed and realistic relationship among the BL dramas I have watched. It did not overly sexualize the relationship of Kongpob and Arthit (in fact, they barely had any skinship), and took its time to process their relationship and feelings.

I was honestly hesitant to watch the drama because of the subject of hazing, but I was quite relieved that it was different from what I expected (ex: fraternity hazing). The plot description says that Arthit often abuses his power, but he is actually a softie who genuinely wants to teach and bond with his juniors, and takes the punishment alone instead of involving his friends. Their initiation activities also reminded of the military training (which is part of our high school curriculum) in my country with all the push ups and squats, and the reiteration of time management and discipline. Despite all the life lessons in SOTUS, I am still AGAINST hazing, so I think that the drama kind of glamorizes this tradition. Thankfully, the hazing was not prolonged, and Kongpob said what needed to be said: traditions need to evolve too.

april 9

• started: april 16
• completed: april 17

• started: april 16
• completed: april 19

First few episodes was quite disappointing—it felt like there was no progress between Kongpob and Arthit (who were supposedly in a three-year relationship) because of Arthit's shyness and awkwardness, and the lack of physical affection. However, I realized as the series progressed that this is just how Arthit is. He overthinks (which leads to self doubt and uncertainties), easily gets shy around Kongpob, and prefers to express his feelings through actions (not necessarily skinship) instead of words. And Krist does it SO good. He conveys so much without saying a word.

The special scenes at the end of each episode are also noteworthy because they show moments of Kongpob and Arthit during the two year time skip. These scenes really leave an impact because you could see the contrast in how Arthit acts around Kongpob in a place he is comfortable with (school) and in a new environment (work). Coming out to your friends is easier than coming out to society since it carries the fear of not being accepted and facing discrimination.

• started: april 18
• completed: april 21

• started: april 24
• completed: april 29

• started: april 22
• completed: may 1

I literally could have finished this last week in one sitting, but chose to not to as I didn’t want it to end.

Singto mentioned how he and Krist are like black and white; completely opposite from one another. Krist is loud, funny, and is afraid of lots of things, while Singto is calm, quiet and quite adventurous (but a picky eater lol). If you see them and didn’t know anything about them, you’d be surprise that Singto is older, lmao. They are so different, but they know each other like the back of their hands and are respectful about each other’s limitations (with the context of the show’s activities). I loved seeing their reflection at the end of each episode, because you’d see a glimpse of their friendship.

• started: april 9
• completed: may 2

Dark Blue Kiss is such a refreshing BL drama. It reminded me of the local dramas I grew up with: dramatic, but not overly crazy, and very much real. Like seriously, I cannot reiterate how realistic the portrayal of the LGBT community was. It showed how people are still coming to terms with their sexuality (Mork), how people are still struggling to come out to their parents because of the fear of disappointing them (Kao), and how important it is for parents to be able to talk freely with their children (Pete’s father vs Non’s father). It is poignant and timely, but still rarely talked about in dramas.

Most BLs also use the "I don't like men, I only like him" line, so it is refreshing when the characters admitted that, indeed, they like men. And yes to actually addressing those who outed someone's sexuality to others, "It's my choice to tell or not tell anyone. I should get to decide." 

As for Pete and Kao storyline, it tackled topics such the dilemma of choosing work over love, the struggles of being in a closeted relationship, and the importance of honesty in a relationship. Pete and Kao have already been together for three years, so this drama is about them trying to make the relationship last. Pete is oftentimes possessive and jealous, but I believe this stems from being in the closet; a relationship that has no complete security and assurance. And I really can’t hate this side of him because Non is provoking Pete throughout the entire series, and Kao is being silent. Again, Dark Blue Kiss is dramatic (the whole Pete, Kao and Non situation), and very much real.

• started: april 29
• completed: may 6

○ started and finished: may 7

○ started and finished: may 8

○ started and finished: may 10

• started: april 8
• completed: may 15
• watched while airing

• started: may 10
• completed: may 15

○ started and finished: may 16

• started: may 9
• completed: may 19

Hmmm. Love By Chance is good if I only think about the main couple because Pete and Ae have one of the healthiest relationships among the BL dramas I have watched. Ae may be hot-headed sometimes, but he realizes his mistakes, apologizes, and quickly resolves the problem with Pete. Not to mention, Ae is genuinely good hearted since the start, so the progress of their relationship (from friendship to a romantic one) is natural and well-paced.

One of my main problems with Love By Chance is that it had too many characters. As a result, it became an odd mishmash of stories with underdeveloped (or lately developed) relationships. The drama also left me confused at times with the amount of references (from TharnType) and the lack of character introductions. The story also shifted its focus on Tin and Can’s relationship towards the end, which was weird if you’d think about how the main couple got sidelined. The finale was also weaker than the previous episodes because the writers tried to wrap the story up without giving the other characters a proper development.

As for the other two couples (Techno and Kengkla, Tum and Tar) on the poster, no words. If Love by Chance and TharnType have something in common, it would be (1) incorporating sexual assault and non consensual sex into the story, and (2) treating trauma as a mere plot device and handling the topic like shit. It’s a no for me.

• started: may 16
• completed: may 24

Girl From Nowhere is about Nanno, a girl who transfers to different schools to expose everyone’s dark secrets and hypocrisies. She never does anything physical to punish her chosen victims; what she does is bring out the worst in people and let them suffer the consequences of their actions. This makes her such a fascinating character.

I’d say give the series a try if you are a fan of Black Mirror. It IS an anthology, so do not expect any correlation between the episodes, and an explanation on who or what Nanno is. Some episodes also have a supernatural element in them, which supports my interpretation on who Nanno is (she is a caricature of what a child of Satan would be like). Do note that the series is extremely dark and disturbing, and shows a lot of triggering topics like statutory rape, sexual assault, suicide, school shooting, etc.

• started: may 25
• completed: may 27

Ah yes, the first Thai BL. First episode introduced too many characters at once (it is an ensemble drama, yes, but having to introduce everyone at a wild party is perplexing), and brought up the fake boyfriend trope abruptly at the end. It literally had no build up or correlation with the first 30 minutes of the episode, so I’m not surprised that this is hated even among fans.

Messy first episode aside, Love Sick is all sorts of everything: chaotic, slow, charming and nostalgic. The characters are young and reckless—and watching them do dumb things both frustrated me AND made me miss high school.

Downside of the drama is how the female characters are portrayed. There is (1) Pang who borderline fetishizes male to male relationships, (2) Aim who seemingly takes advantage of her boyfriend’s money, (3) Jeed who dumps her boyfriend after finding out he’s not rich and (4) Yuri who somehow managed to get in a relationship by proclaiming herself as his girlfriend. They are honestly harmless but they ARE frustrating.

The fake dating trope is merely used as a background, so do not expect a fun romcom. This is a teen drama that focuses on a LOT of a high school kids and their stupid decisions. I had some issues now and then, and there’s not much of a character development. However, Phun and Noh are both sweet and kind (and confused) individuals, and could easily carry the show with their storyline. I’ve read that their progress in the second season is great, so I plan to watch it despite the whooping 36 episode count.  

• started: june 1
• completed: june 9

Honestly, one of the better quality BL dramas out there. The music, the directing, and the acting (see: rooftop scene) all delivered. However, I was not particularly sold into the romance. In fact, I enjoyed the mystery and the friendship more than it. The drama has one of the best coming out confessions, though. Thun came out of the closet because he wanted to, not because he was in a relationship (most cases in BL dramas). It handled the topic of sexuality openly and maturely, and didn’t go to the “I don’t like men, I only like him” route. So refreshing.

As for not being a fan of the romance, I liked Thun and Mes better as friends because their relationship, both as a romantic one AND their connection with the people around them, were just plain weird. I’m not even going to talk about the ending because it irked me. A sadder one would have been so much better.

○ started and finished: june 1

Toxic as hell.

• started: june 6
• completed: june 11

I wasn’t fond of Zhang Yuxi in I Cannot Hug You, but she is such a pleasant surprise here! She does misunderstood ice princess characters so good. Her character, Su Jinbei, is sweet, understanding, and genuinely good-hearted. To top it off, she is also successful and confident. Zhang Yuxi also has an amazing chemistry with Ding Yuxi (two Yuxi’s—so cute plz). His character, Zhao Shiyun, is not the typical cold and rude male lead. He is patient, caring, sensible, and he actually has expressions!

As for the drama itself, definitely an easy watch. The romance developed early on, and the progress of the two leads’ relationship is very much visible. Su Jinbei and Zhao Shiyun know how to communicate and show affection. Their only conflict is not even triggered by jealousy or their respective careers (since Jin Bei is a top actress and is followed by rumors and paparazzi), but by disappointment. And them not fighting over a third party or any rumor says a lot about their maturity as individuals and as a couple.

Like most fluffy and angst-free romcoms, the drama could have been shorter. There is so little to share if the leads are already as sweet as a newly married couple from the beginning.

○ started and finished: june 12

○ completed: june 13

• started: may 31
• completed: june 14
• watched while airing

A short, but well-paced soft angst. It is one of those rare Korean dramas wherein I liked the second half better than the first. 

• started while airing: may 19
• continued: june 24 (episode 3)
• completed: june 28

Stinkin' cute, ridiculous, and laugh-out-loud funny.

Not gonna lie, I couldn't care less about the main couple, BohnDuen. They had their cute moments, but I wasn't a fan of their characters (and Poy's acting). I also had mixed emotions with MekBoss. They were interesting at the beginning, but I couldn't root for them while Fon was still in the picture. My favorite couple would be RamKing, followed by TharaFrong. Looking forward to their development in the second season!

My Engineer also deserves praise for actually giving enough screen time on all couples. Having multiple couples is a common element in BL dramas, but only a few does it with justice. For example: Love By Chance also had four couples, but My Engineer achieved what Love By Chance failed at—balancing the focus on all four relationships, and giving each one a proper development.

○ started and finished: june 29

• started: 
• completed: 

• started: july 11
• completed: july 12

• started: july 16
• completed: july 17

• started: july 25
• completed: july 28

Definitely what I would call a fanservice BL because the drama was such a hot mess. Keyword: hot.

Why R U was apparently affected by the lockdown, so the production team had to do with whatever material they have. This might have affected the quality of the later episodes, but the first four episodes were already a testament on how messy and confusing the overall story (or the lack thereof) was.

There were so many characters (most of their stories were left unfinished because of the shut down) to begin with, so the focus was already unsteady. The series also tried to play with reality and fantasy, but the execution was rather weak and confusing. To add more, this whole subplot was quickly forgotten some time in the middle of the drama.

Now, onto the main couple: Saint (Tutor) and Zee (Fighter) had an amazing chemistry together. And no, I did not come to this conclusion just because of the amount of skinship their characters had. It was so obvious that there was something between Fighter and Tutor the moment they first saw each other. The two characters also really talked things through before they entered into a relationship, so that was very much appreciated. Unfortunately, I had some problems during the penultimate episode. As for the second couple: I was not as invested as most Saifah and Zon CP fans were but yes, they were adorable together!

• started: july 29
• completed: july 30

○ started and finished: august 3

○ started and finished: august 3

• started: july 28, 2019
• continued: july 31, 2020 (episode 23)
• completed: august 8

The negatives: The drama was already past the halfway point when I started to enjoy it. The female lead was quite stalkery and meek, while the male lead was too aloof and angsty at the beginning. In addition, I was not a fan of the romance. The two leads had their cute moments, but their overall story did not just cut it for me. Their story used the meddling parents and noble idiocy tropes, which slowed the narrative down. The angst was honestly pointless because the leads eventually got back together without resolving the issues with her parents (it still took a few episodes before they were totally resolved), and him not telling her the real reason of the break up.

The positives: The drama’s themes of friendship, teamwork, dreams, and nationalism. These are some of the reasons why I love sports drama, so the emotional payoff was very well present. I literally cannot count how many times I cried because of Team Solo (e.g. their backstory, Xiao Mi’s arc, etc.) and Team KK. Team Solo might not have achieved their goals 10 years ago, but the fact that they were still in the CTF field (better yet, as mentors) meant that they were still following their dreams. As the drama said, “people with dreams will always be young.”

• started: august 9
• completed: august 10

Tangmo is officially one of my favorite male leads ever so I might be biased but I really, really love the drama.

One may categorize this as a BL drama, but I wouldn’t solely label it as that. Cringeworthy and whacked beginning aside, the drama gave different types of love: familial, platonic, romantic, and unconditional ones. Great Men Academy is also not the typical institution that teaches subjects like Math and Science to its students, so every episode has a lesson on what it means to be a great person.

• started: june 7
• completed: august 13

• started: august 11
• completed: august 18
• watched before the finale aired

• started: september 1
• completed: september 3

Make Our Days Count, such a foreboding title.

I actually still like the drama. It was funny, over-the-top fluffy and sometimes cringeworthy. The story had friendship, familial bond, and a heart fluttering romance. Despite being set in high school, it already dealt with some struggles of the LGBT community face: sex and acceptance from the family. The importance of consent was showed as well, with Xiang Hao Ting quickly realizing his mistake, apologizing for it and reflecting afterwards.

Now, the last episode. Oh boy. I don’t mind sad and open endings. In fact, some of my favorites dramas have these type of endings, and Korean dramas always have anticlimactic finales. However, the final episode (using Viki’s 10 episode count) literally had a shift in mood. The final hour was all about grief and how it affected those who were left behind. It was dark and sad. It did not show Yu Xi Gu’s accident, so it did not feel real at all. I hated that the drama let him had a doppelganger, confused the hell out of the viewers, and gave us false hope. So cruel. Despite all this, I understand the message the drama was trying to give—making our days count with our loved ones because there is no assurance of what will happen tomorrow.

• started: september 3
• completed: september 4

Was this a good investigation drama? Decently executed, but the police were crappy and quite useless.
Was this an engaging, riveting crime/romance? HELL YES.

First of all, there was a plot. There was the mystery that happened four years ago, which resulted to the deaths of both Tang Yi’s and Meng Shao Fei’s mentors. The connection, the questions, the repercussions, the loose ends—they were all given and tied in the end.

Second, the romance was amazing. Even from the start when Tang Yi and Meng Shao Fei were still enemies, other people have acknowledged that something was going on between them. Shao Fei had been following Tang Yi for four years, so they understood and knew each other well enough. The two did not even go through the confusion stage. They easily accepted their feelings and were honest about it. They did not care how this will affect their image. As Shao Fei said to his fellow police officer, "Do not talk about black and white. The world is a colorful place."

It also showed the conflict that arises in a romantic relationship between a gang leader and a police officer. They cannot deny that there was a difference in their point of view on morals and laws. Shao Fei loves Tang Yi, yes, but he knew it was his duty to arrest him when needed. Thankfully, Shao Fei never allowed his loved one to go down the drain and was always there to keep him in check. Tang Yi’s character development (and how he changed his goals) was honestly so satisfying to see.

Third, the ending was fitting since the story cannot completely disregard Tang Yi’s past crimes and his involvement to gangs. It was neutral, but with a promise of happiness. 

○ started and finished: september 5

Yeah, no. I’ve been living away from my parents since I was 16, so my biggest pet peeve is people like Cheng Qing who does not help with any house work and treats their roommate like a helper. The least thing he could do is be appreciative. Second, Feng He is too nice and should grow a backbone. Third, shipping real people, especially when they do not interact or are not friendly at all, does not sit well with me. For that, Meng Meng looked like she just wanted to fulfill her BL fantasy so bad.

The show does have budget and time constraints, so I’m not complaining about the romantic development. After all, HIStory (4 episodes) walked, so HIStory2 (8 episodes) and HIStory3 (20 episodes) could run. I just simply found this uninteresting; hence, the rating.

• started: september 7
• completed: september 13

An unhealthy relationship in the making. Jiang Jin Teng was scary, forcing himself on Shao Yi Chen, lying to him and exploiting his kindness. Obsession over a person will never be romantic.

○ started and finished: september 14

Hilarious. The two leads are so dumb together, I love it.

• started: september 14
• completed: september 16

Miman Keisatsu was an entertaining drama about two police academy students and the mess they were always in. Technically, the two were capable—Jiro with his physical strength and Kai with his smart brain, but they were also SO dumb. I absolutely loved them. I was satisfied with the main case as well; how they solved it, who the main culprit was, and what the aftermath was.

○ started and finished: september 18

The cutest and arguably the best one from HIStory 1. The final episode was frustrating compared to the rest of the episodes, but the ending really pulled through. So cute.

• started: september 8
• completed: september 28

Cute for the first 13 episodes, then it spiraled down into a repetitive mess. Thankfully, the last two episodes made up for it. So ridiculously cute. The other two couples deserve to be mentioned as well because they were great and oftentimes more interesting than the main couple.

I don’t even know where to begin with. When I say that this drama talks about sex, it TALKS about sex—kinks, sex positions, sex toys, sex work, literally everything related to sex. Without prejudice!

Raise de wa Chanto Shimasu is so mature and raunchy and liberated. The structure of each episode is very much like of a sitcom, but the story is not one-dimensional. It deviates from the gender norms and does not conform to society. It is rare to find a female lead who fully embraces her sexuality and sleeps around, yet this drama gives its viewers that through Omori Momoe.

The drama is also open-minded and does not explicitly label anyone. For example, Ume-chan never labeled herself as an asexual despite the signs, and did not remove the prospect that she could be a lesbian. She wanted to discover herself and when she found her answer, she easily accepted it and everybody else was supportive of her. There is also Nagi-chan. She could be a transwoman or simply a man who loves to crossdress; all I know is that the show literally made me squeal when Masaru declared that he is dating Nagi. The drama portray also portrays sex work neutrally. Some people may not like how Kokoro-chan, a soapland worker, exploits Hiyama's kindness. However, work is work and no feelings should be involved.

The sexual tension between Momoe and Matsuda is noteworthy as well. It is just SO strong. I honestly wanted the two to get together right off the bat, but I liked how the drama showed the thin line between the characters and how crossing this line may or may not be good.

• started: march 9, 2017 but was put on-hold due to the lack of subs
• continued and completed: september 30, 2020

A brainless watch, which I don't mind at all. Despite the wackiness and all the clichés I love, it failed what to be it was marketed at: a cute romcom.

• started: september 20
• completed: october 5
• watched while airing

Just alright. It was either too light or too dramatic (the whole debt subplot). With the exception of Sang Ha, everything else was forgettable.

• started: october 7
• completed: october 11

• started: october 15
• completed: october 15

The story was not sad, per se, but the final episode was difficult to watch. Haruma only got to film three episodes, so the writers had to change the direction of the story. Still, they wrapped it up nicely without using a stand-in for him or giving it a tragic ending.

• started: august 14
• completed: october 28

october 30

If Theory of Love was about Third's point of view, then this was Khai's. There really wasn't much going on here plot-wise, but this delved deeper into Khai's thoughts, the importance of honesty and trust, and the realization that it takes two to make a relationship work. It wasn't just Khai trying to change himself for the better, Third was also trying to understand him and not easily jump to conclusion like before.

Overall, a really satisfying special to end their story. The ending wasn't abrupt, rushed nor forced. The glimpse into their future (like how they did in Theory of Love) was as natural as OffGun's chemistry. I'm kinda emotional, not gonna lie. I actually missed the gang, and I will miss them afterwards.

• started: october 29
• completed: november 6

One of the better contract marriage dramas. The two leads have a healthy, cordial relationship throughout the entire run. No angst, no annoying second leads, and no need for the dreaded reveal of the contract relationship. It's innocently sweet and awkwardly cute.

I also thought female lead is dumb for the first few episodes, but she does get better after they got married. As for the other two couples, they are much more dramatic. I didn't totally skip their scenes to get the gist of their storylines, but yeah, they are skippable.

• started: september 2
• completed: november 19
• watched while airing

I would never binge nor finish this season had I watched this after it finished airing. Tin and Can’s story was a do-over from the start, while everyone’s story (Kengkla/Techno, Tum/Tar) was a continuation from the first season. However, there was barely any continuation since more than half of the entire season was spent on the retelling (7 episodes out of 13) and the other characters were mostly absent.

Worst part was, the Ae, Tin and Can from the first season were different here. Ae was either crying or drinking, Tin was more aloof, while Can was more childish, dense, and annoying. The drama did not even explain the absence of Pete and the reason why Pete and Ae broke up. It's like the show solely depended on the fans of the novel to explain and defend the story to those who criticize it. The drama also added new characters that have supposedly been right there from the start (e.g. Champ, Mai). No introductions, no development, and no contribution to the plot. Everything just felt so rushed, disjointed, and bad.

Don't even start with the acting or the casting. Just because Meen (Tul) was taller than Mean (Tin) doesn't make him look older. They couldn't even find a better child actor for Phupa, Tul's son. Mean and Plan somehow lost all their chemistry from the first season.

• started: november 21
• completed: november 22

A healthy and close-knitted relationship between two girls appears to be actually bounded by guilt and dependence. Then enters the bad boy who shakes up this seemingly perfect relationship. And whaddaya know, bad boy is messed up on his own as a result of maternal deprivation.

For a short drama about 16 year olds, Sixteen Shoukougun is quite dark and intense. I like it.

• started: november 24
• completed: november 25

I wanted to love it as much as other people did. I really do. Yet somehow, my love for the drama lessened during the last two episodes. I blame the lack of verbal communication, especially at the end of episode four.

Other than that, beautiful cinematography and musical score. The story didn't hurt like what I expected it to do since the heaviness of the drama mainly came from the overall mood and tone. The warm color palette, the subtle seduction, the comfortable silence, the intense stare... everything's all about the feelz.

• started: october 23
• completed: november 28
• watched while airing

A cute, go-with-the-flow type of drama. Nothing happens but it's still enjoyable.

Male lead is quite controlling and possessive towards the end of the drama. This possessiveness is portrayed as cute (to show his jealous side) and common (never addressed), it honestly made me uncomfortable sometimes. Other than the last few episodes, he's harmless for majority of the drama.

• started: november 18 
• completed: december 6
• started before the finale aired

Definitely darker and more ambitious than the first season. The drama focused too much on the story to the point where the characterizations were compromised. Where were the students of Gifted Class XV who I loved in the previous season? They were either useless or irrational in this drama. The school director was even written better than the students. He was such nuanced character, consumed by his own ideals.

Plot twists after plot twists do not automatically make a story great; it can get convoluted and anticlimactic towards the end. Unfortunately, this was the case for the Gifted: Graduation.

• started: october 13
• completed: december 9

Another 24-episode Chinese romantic drama that was both tropey (boss/employee and forced cohabitation) and sugary with no depth nor logic. It was simply a mindless watch—just how I like my modern dramas.

What I did not like, on the other hand, was how the misunderstanding (main conflict) was dragged on for too long and how the noble idiocy trope was used far too many times. Overall, cute but frustrating. Fun, but also ridiculous.

• started: july 6
• completed: december 8
• started while airing

I am definitely part of the minority who did not love this drama. The beginning was good, but the second half kind of fizzled out. The mystery aspect also left me confused and bored because it felt so out of place. Even the final episode, which was supposed to be the light (episode) in the dark, took me days to finish. Best part of the drama was the characters. They were extremely flawed but nuanced, so I really can’t hate anyone.

• started: november 22
• completed: december 14

Really simple—quite mundane actually—but wholesomely sweet and warm.