My Favorite Movies and Dramas

This is, without a doubt, the BEST Asian drama I've ever watched. Even though it's 73 episodes, I was totally invested in the story from beginning to end.  I'm still blown away by the acting, the story, the music...everything! With all the character development and sudden twists, I was constantly on my toes and anxious for the next episode.

There were only two drawbacks: way too many characters/names to remember (which could've been a language barrier issue more than anything else) and I would've loved more cutesy scenes between the ML and FL. They're married in real life, so you could really feel the chemistry and love between them.

A combination of Harry Potter and Stars Wars, this is an absolute treasure of a movie. It started out very goofy, but a story about death is bound to become emotional sooner or later. The married protagonists are such an adorable couple - I would love to see more of them in a sequel or two...or ten.

My only complaint is the ending. What happened to the ML's best friend? Was Aunt Kin a ghost or a spirit or just a really old lady? I'm glad the protagonists had a happy ending, but what about everyone else?

Absolutely hilarious from start to finish. I loved the goofy relationship between Gong Shim and Dan Tae. The plot is your typical love triangle with a hateful sister trying to ruin everything, but even if it was cliche and a bit clunky, I still enjoyed it. It's not meant to be taken seriously - just a cute, goofy story.

One of the few dramas I've watched that was so heartbreaking yet beautiful that I cried. Highly, highly recommend.

A poor handyman and a spoiled heiress with amnesia - the perfect K-Drama combination! In the beginning, everyone's blind hatred of each other is pretty annoying, but they gradually mature and realize their own prejudices are wrong. If you're looking for a silly, light-hearted drama with all the typical Korean elements, then I definitely recommend it.

Loved it! The relationship between Healer and Yeong Shin was so sweet and innocent, the action scenes were believable, and the OST (Original Soundtrack) was just gorgeous. The overall plot, however, was predictable and I never felt that rush of "I wonder what happens next!".

Not at all realistic, but it was cute. The FL isn't your traditional Asian lead actress - she's pretty, not beautiful, and doesn't dress like a runway model. Plus, her character is unique in that she's eccentric and has weird mannerisms. All the actors and actresses did an amazing job in their roles, especially Seo In Guk as the adorable (and gorgeous) ML.

My only issue is with the ending. It's definitely emotional and devastating, but it's anti-climactic. If you blink, you might miss it.

The relationship between the leads is very cute and intimate. The way Qin Zi Qi looks at Shen Xing Reng with love in his eyes is just so adorable. The storyline is pretty cliche, but I still enjoyed it.

The lead characters have unique personalities that I've never seen in an Asian drama before. Beneath his harsh attitude, the chef truly cares about his employees and pushes them to better themselves. The FL is stubborn and childish (so much pouting!), but she's very endearing for some reason.

Genius architects who solve very dark murders as a hobby. 

The FL's mental illness played a huge role and I think the writers perfectly captured how a traumatic event can warp a person's personality. There's a bit of romance thrown in, but the ML keeps it in check because of her illness. The cases themselves are absolutely brilliant and usually involve a locked room.

Immature kids fresh out of college learn very quickly how difficult law enforcement is, but they grow into great detectives. I liked the awkward romance between the leads, but the ML's bad boy personality was too much at times. At least a quarter of the show is just him brooding in the dark.

The ending was pretty predictable after only watching a few episodes, but there were so many lessons to be learned from this drama. Mental illness, being stuck in a relationship. overcoming trauma, leaving a toxic environment...even with so many barriers in life, it's possible to find love and live happily.

Korean prosecutors struggling in a corrupted legal system that values the number of cases solved over actual justice. I really sympathized with their frustrations of wanting to be successful in their career, but not at the expense of their clients. It also does a great job of showing the pain and suffering of crime victims. 

The romance aspect is a side-plot. There's some flirting and a kiss or two, but that's it. This drama is nonstop, which can be stressful to watch, and there were a few filler episodes that could've been edited out.

The description makes it seem like a dark tragedy, but it's actually an action-filled comedy with a hint of romance thrown in. Basically, it's a historical drama condensed into a 2-hour movie and it's absolutely amazing. The cinematography was mind-blowingly beautiful, as well.

This movie made me so angry and happy at the same time. Angry because the FL's mother is a bitch who abandons her daughter in an empty apartment so she can date and then is shocked when the FL is upset about it. Happy because FL and ML become emotional crutches for each other and learn how to smile again. 

They both make some dumb choices (Hey, I’ll fight this entire enemy gang by myself. What could possibly go wrong?), but they're traumatized teens with unstable families, so it's hard to be annoyed with them.

The first Taiwanese drama I ever watched. Filled with drama at every turn, but I liked it for some reason. The ML obviously has some kind of disorder that makes his mood fluctuate (I saw someone suggest Asperger's) and he's way too stubborn. The FL is a stalker whose life revolves around the ML to an unhealthy degree. She's still pretty cute, though, in a ditzy kind of way.

Sequel to "It Started with a Kiss". Even though he's still snobby and has serious mood swings, the ML has learned how to love (somewhat) and is cutely affectionate. Realistically, their relationship would never last, but it makes for good Tv.

I watched the Taiwanese version years ago and absolutely hated it because of all the disgusting emotional abuse, so I was hesitant to watch the Korean version, but it was so funny and cute that I ended up loving it. I know it's a remake, so they couldn't make too many changes, but I think the break-up arc is a waste of time and should've been cut out.

An amazing look into the harsh reality of the medical profession. I loved the characters and their close friendships. The storyline was so suspenseful that I was never once bored. On the other hand, the ML is very immature, snobby, and he doesn't really grow much as a person. Also, the FL began as the main character and was suffering from PTSD. After a few episodes, the ML took over and her story was abruptly ended.

A hidden gem! This is easily one of the best Asian movies I've seen so far. The acting, plot, cinematography, and music were all amazing. Even the comedy aspect was perfect - just enough silliness to be funny.

A comedy that's stupid in a good way. I loved how all the characters were the best of friends and everything they did was silly but relatable. The male lead was so affectionate, always touching her in some way and telling her how great she was.

I really liked the FL's character. She's a genius and has a limited understanding of emotions, but she likes to draw cartoon animals and learns from her mistakes. Plus, she's so tiny! The ML's personality, on the other hand, is sort of wishy-washy. In the beginning, he's the harsh, badass supervisor everyone looks up - the main character. In the second half, he mellows out and becomes the FL's sidekick. I never really understood what or who they were fighting against, either. The only explanation given is that they're bad guys wanted by the Chinese government.

It's very predictable and cliche, but so cute that I couldn't stop watching. This is the type of drama you'd watch when you're sad and need a pick-me-up.

Young people struggling to realize their dreams in a world that demands income to survive, they come together for companionship and end up falling in love. It's very relatable and sends a good message - Don't give up. You're not worthless.

A heart-stopping look into the mentality of firefighters and the lengths they'll go to save a life. It has a unique plot that kept me on my toes from start to finish, interesting characters, and great acting. At 4 episodes, I think it was perfect.

I can't resist a soldier in uniform, especially if he's as charming as Yoo Shi Jin. 

Even though there's no concrete storyline or a 'problem' that must be overcome, "Descendants of the Sun" is a unique drama full of action and suspense. It's about two people with difficult careers trying to make a relationship work, plus the occasional gunshot wound and devastating natural disaster to spice things up. The cinematography and settings were gorgeous.

I really wasn't a fan of the FL's character, though. While the ML was flirty, funny, and charismatic, her personality was...wooden. I wasn't impressed with her acting and some scenes felt overly fake and forced.

A bittersweet movie about a young woman discovering her grandmother's secret love from decades before she was born and finding her own love along the way. It's very powerful and emotional - the actors did an excellent job. However, it’s paced very slowly and there’s very little conflict because nothing is at stake.

Loved it! I laughed throughout the entire movie. The female lead is a sarcastic and loud tomboy, the male lead is a tsundere softie who loves manga, and the nerds at the university remind me of the birds from Nemo. My only problem is the ending - I really hope they're leaving it open for a sequel.

This satirical movie shows how women are viewed differently than men in the workplace. If men use their social connections, they're clever and ambitious. If women use their connections, they're despicable sluts. This movie actually does a great job of showing just how ridiculous that is, while also making it hilarious.

It deviates from the manga a bit, but I think it did a great job of showing Kenshin's inner struggles. Also, the setting, the clothing, the acting, the fight scenes - all perfect! I was seriously blown away. Sato Takeru is a very talented actor and his smile is adorable. 

My only complaint is Kaoru. In the manga, she can hold her own in a fight and beats almost everyone who challenges her. In the movie, she's just another damsel in distress.

A coming-of-age story about three sisters who learn how to pave their own future and fight for the men they love. It has the perfect amount of drama, (mostly) realistic situations, and a great cast of characters. Definitely a fun way to spend an afternoon or two!

A seriously underrated drama! I dropped the score to a 9 because the ending was very anticlimactic and disappointing. Plus, it annoyed me how they called the ML a psychopath.

"A Beautiful Mind" is a typical medical drama. The cast did an amazing job in their roles - it was like watching real-life friends going about their day - and I laughed much more than I expected. I also really like how the main premise of the show is that scary disorders like Antisocial Personality Disorder can easily be misunderstood. In some cases, they're a psychopath who kills and steals without mercy. In other cases, like the ML's, they're just normal people who are emotionally stunted.

I have no complaints about this drama! It was short, which meant there weren't any unneeded fillers, and I enjoyed each episode. The acting was fantastic. At times, I had to remind myself that they were playing a character and not just hanging out with their real-life friends. The relationships were all done very well too. No stupid drama, no cliches. I loved the humor and had to rewind some scenes multiple times because they were just so funny. I'm looking forward to watching the sequels and seeing how everyone succeeds!

I've watched the Korean version and it was...okay. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't exactly enjoy it either. I think this version is much better. 

I was skeptical about watching a sequel of a show I enjoyed because sequels have a tendency to ruin everything they touch, but I actually really liked this one. Nodame and Chiaki's relationship made some progress and both of them really grew as people and as musicians. But...the foreign characters who lived in the same house as Nodame and Chiaki were pointless additions and downright annoying. 

This is only Part I of the second sequel to Nodame Cantabile, so it's obviously just an introduction to Nodame and Chiaki's next challenge, but I was still disappointed. It followed the same script as the Special, with the only difference being that they hug each other more often. I'm hoping it picks up in Part II.

It did pick up! Nodame and Chiaki had their happy ending.  Although I would've liked something more concrete, like a scene of them still together decades into the future, I still think it was a beautiful way to end the series. They've definitely become one of my favorite fictional couples! They didn't let their love become their identity, as some couples do, but a source of strength for them to overcome their own personal struggles. I wish more Asian dramas were done this way.

A cute movie without endless dramatic fillers. There's nothing all that special about it, but it was still fun to watch. I really liked the ML and his siblings, but the FL's character was a bit bland. Instead of a movie, I think this would've been better as a drama. There just wasn't enough time to explore all their struggles, so it felt very rushed.

Despite obviously being a very low-budget drama, The Romance of Hua Rong is a hidden gem that really surprised me. I was expecting a cliche, fluffy drama about a sexy pirate, but it turned out to be much more. Although the plot leaves much to be desired, I stayed for the hilarious friendships, the intense chemistry between the leads, the spunky FL, and the downright gorgeous ML.

A perfect mix of comedy, romance, and horror. Absolutely loved it!

A cute story about a neglected princess who dreams of freedom and an emperor who finally realizes that he has allowed superstition to ruin his daughter's happiness. 

The ending was abrupt and rushed, but only because it was a short movie that didn't leave much time for interaction between the leads. One minute they're casual acquaintances and the next they're confessing their undying love for each other. Not very realistic, but the cinematography was stunning in that final scene.