Best Asian Dramas & Movies
Since I have been watching Asian movies and tv shows for 10 years now, I have compiled an extensive list of favorites. (REVIEWS IN NOTES + SPICE LEVEL INCLUDED).
My favorite components of a good Kdrama or movie are a good cast, *GREEN FLAG MALE LEADS IN ROMANCE DRAMAS*, character development, chemistry between characters, emotive acting, a complete and satisfying ending, and an unpredictable (complex) plotline (unless it's incredibly wholesome and/or unique for the time it was made).
My favorite genres are romance, fantasy, thriller, historical fiction, and slice of life.
(Least favorite Kdramas of all time, due to bad endings or plotlines: Scent of a Woman, Fated to Love You, Mischievous Kiss, Personal Taste, Heirs, Vagabond, King the Land, Crash Course in Romance)
My favorite components of a good Kdrama or movie are a good cast, *GREEN FLAG MALE LEADS IN ROMANCE DRAMAS*, character development, chemistry between characters, emotive acting, a complete and satisfying ending, and an unpredictable (complex) plotline (unless it's incredibly wholesome and/or unique for the time it was made).
My favorite genres are romance, fantasy, thriller, historical fiction, and slice of life.
(Least favorite Kdramas of all time, due to bad endings or plotlines: Scent of a Woman, Fated to Love You, Mischievous Kiss, Personal Taste, Heirs, Vagabond, King the Land, Crash Course in Romance)
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- StarsSeol In-ahChoi Hyun-wookShin Eun-soo"Sparkling Watermelon" will tell the story of a boy living a double life between a model student and a band member who gets to time slip and meets his 18-year-old father. The two will build friendships there.10/10 Time travel, romantic love story, platonic family love story, original music score and performances, WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED. SPICE 2/5.
- StarsLee HyeriGo Kyung-pyoRyu Jun-yeolFive childhood friends, who all live in the same Ssangmundong neighborhood of Seoul in 1988, lean on each other to survive their challenging teen years and set a path for their futures.10/10. A coming of age story of a group of neighborhood children and their families, how they grow up, change, grieve, fall in love, and find their passion for living. The most beautiful Asian drama of all time that is endlessly rewatchable and has a beautiful romance story. SPICE LEVEL: 2/5 Several Beautiful Kiss Scenes
- StarsShin Min-aKim Seon-hoGina SuA big-city dentist opens up a practice in a close-knit seaside village, home to a charming jack-of-all-trades who is her polar opposite in every way.10/10. I also would like to move to a seaside village, fall in love, gain an amazing community of friends, be drama-free, and get married. Green flag couple 101. They both have dimples! SPICE LEVEL: 5/5 Suggestive Bedroom Scenes
- StarsGong YooYoon Eun-hyeLee Sun-kyunA tomboy, mistaken for a lad, maintains the deception for the sake of employment. The situation becomes complicated when her male boss begins to develop feelings for this "boy."10/10. An iconic Kdrama that aged amazingly with a timelessly unique plotline and magnetic characters with absolutely amazing chemistry as a cast, and as a love story. SPICE LEVEL: 5/5 Suggestive Bedroom Scenes
- StarsLusi ZhaoZheyuan ChenZhang Jiong MinSang Zhi falls in love with Duan Jia Xu, the boy who often comes to her house to play with her brother. Years after she joins the university in the city he now lives, and during their day-to-day interactions, they slowly fall in love.100/10. The best Cdrama of all time that gives many Kdramas a run for their money. The best part is the GREEN FLAG male lead (written by a woman). This show has no drama, the wholesome love story is the only plot point! SPICE LEVEL: 4/5 A lot of kissing scenes, intimacy, some slightly suggestive scenes.
- CreatorKim BbangStarsLee Seung-HyubByeon Woo-seokKim Hye-yoonRight after Ryoo Seon-jae, a top star ends his life, Im Sol, his top fan somehow ends up at a time when they were in high school and tries to protect him. A fantasy romance unfolds where people who missed each other in time finally meet.
- StarsLee Seung-joonPark GyuyoungCha Eun-wooAn unpredictable fantasy romance between a woman living under a curse that causes her to turn into a dog when kissed, and the only one who can help her overcome the curse is a man who is afraid of dogs.9.5/10 THIS HAS NO BUSINESS BEING THIS CUTE. Eunwoo has me fanning myself, he literally plays my dream man. The way his character is so in love with Haena before she even likes him has my heart fluttering and butterflies flying. Clearly written by a woman. SPICE 4/5 so far (10/16 episodes)
- StarsSong Joong-kiJeon Yeo-beenTaecyeonDuring a visit to his motherland, a Korean-Italian Mafia lawyer gives an unrivaled conglomerate a taste of its own medicine with a side of justice.9/10. Hilarious, thrilling, and heartwarming. Vincenzo is all three. Give it 8 or so episodes, I promise it's anything but predictable. SPICE LEVEL 0/5: Single kiss scene.
- StarsLee Joon-giIUKang Ha-neulHa-jin travels 1000 years back in time and lands in the era of Goryeo Dynasty as a young girl named Hae-soo. She, now trapped in another person's body, becomes involved in a power struggle against various vicious contenders to the throne.9/10. This drama will rip your heart out of your chest, serve it to you on a platter, and have you tipping and saying "thank you for the delicious meal" at the end. SPICE LEVEL: 3/5 Several kiss scenes, suggestive material, passionate.
- StarsDylan WangEsther YuLinghe ZhangA fairy whose tribe was in war with Moon Demon Lord, Qingcang meets him and mutual incantation and mutual curse ties their lives.9.5/10 AMAZING Cdrama with an enemies to lover romance plot. Don’t judge a drama by it’s title LOL. AMAZING special effects, world building, fantasy elements. AMAZING cast and episodes that always stay interesting. This is what Alchemy of Souls should’ve been. Spice Level 3/5.
- StarsJun Ji-hyunKim Soo-hyunPark Hae-jinDo Min-Joon, an alien that came to our planet 400 years ago, will be able to return to his planet in 3 months, but when he meets famous actress Chun Song-Yi, all the centuries he spent distancing himself from humans come to an end.9/10. Hundred-year-old alien + his one true love + her modern-day, celebrity doppelganger = a hell of a ride with plenty of cute, relatable moments.... can't be missed!! SPICE LEVEL: 2/5 Several kiss scenes, raunchy female lead
- StarsLee Sun-kyunIULee Ji-ahA man in his 40s withstands the weight of life. A woman in her 20s goes through different experiences, but also withstands the weight of her life. The man and woman get together to help each other.9/10. Deeply meaningful, philosophical, and true to life show similar to the likes of Reply 1988, My Liberation Notes, Summer Strike, and Our Blues. SPICE LEVEL -1/10, don’t go in expecting romance.
- StarsHikari MitsushimaRikako YagiTakeru SatohYoung, free and madly in love. As teenagers, the world was their oyster but as adults, their lives seem dimmer, like a very important piece is missing.9/10. Japanese drama about nostalgia, missing your first love, and finding them again as an adult when it means more. SPICE LEVEL: 1/5 Some kiss scenes
- StarsIm Si-wanKim Seol-hyunPark Ye-youngAdapted from a webtoon. A drama about voluntary unemployed Lee Yeo-reum and librarian Ahn Dae-beom, who declared a life strike, leaving a complex city and looking for themselves in a strange place.8.5/10
- StarsJang Dong-gunKim Ok-binYoon Sa-bong"Arthdal Chronicles" depicts the birth of civilization and nations in ancient times. It is a story of mythical heroes--their struggle, unity, and love of people living in a virtual land called Arth.9.5/10. Epic Korean Game of Thrones: getting a season 2 in 2023! SPICE LEVEL: 3/5 Suggestive scenes with side characters
- StarsPark Eun-binKang Tae-ohKang Ki-youngDue to her 164 I.Q., impressive memory and creative thought process, autistic 27-year-old lawyer Woo Young Woo graduated at the top of her class from a prestigious law school.9/10 Groundbreaking and wholesome <3 Spice level 0.5/5
- StarsHyun BinSon Ye-jinSeo Ji-hyeThe absolute top secret love story of a chaebol heiress who made an emergency landing in North Korea because of a paragliding accident and a North Korean special officer who falls in love with her and who is hiding and protecting her.9/10 Self explanatory, it’s great! :)
- CreatorLee So-YoungStarsPark Eun-binKim Ro-WoonNam Yoon-SuThe story is set during the Joseon Dynasty when twins were considered an ominous sign. When the Crown Princess Consort gives birth to twins, an order is sent to kill the daughter. To save her, she is secretly sent out of the palace.9/10. Gender roles reversed :)
- DirectorSung-hee JoStarsSong Joong-kiPark Bo-youngYeong-ran LeeSummoned by an unexpected phone call, an elderly woman visits the country cottage she lived in as a child. Memories of an orphan boy she knew 47 years ago come flooding back to her.9/10. One of those movies that always make me sob, from sadness and joy. SPICE LEVEL: 0/5
- StarsLee Jae-wookHwang Min-hyunYoo Joon-sangSet in a fictional country called Daeho, it is about the love and growth of young mages as they overcome their twisted fates due to a forbidden magic spell known as the "alchemy of souls", which allows souls to switch bodies.9.5/10 for first season. 6/10 for second season. Skip the second season, trust me.
- StarsPark Seo-joonKim Ji-wonAhn Jae-hongKo Dong Man, a former taekwondo champion, and Choi Ae Ra, a receptionist, struggle to follow their dreams as life throws obstacles in their path.9/10 AMAZING best friends to lovers plot line… with an amazing male lead! SPICE LEVEL: 4/5.
- StarsPark Bo-youngPark Hyung-sikJi SooDo Bong-soon is a woman born with superhuman strength that comes from the long line of women possessing it. when Ahn Min Hyuk, the CEO of ainsoft, a gaming company witnesses her strength he hires her as his personal bodyguard.8/10
- CreatorGwang JinStarsPark Seo-joonKim Da-miYoo Jae-myungAn ex-con opens a street bar in Itaewon, while also seeking revenge on the family who was responsible for his father's death.10/10. A story of revenge, found family, true love, and finding success amid a world that is against you. SPICE LEVEL: 1/5 Few kiss scenes.
- StarsShin Se-KyungCha Eun-wooLee Ji-hoonSet in 19th-century Korea, a female historian faces gender discrimination but perseveres. She gets entangled with Prince Lee Rim, blurring lines between duty and personal involvement.
- StarsAhn Bo-hyunPark Jin-jooKim Bo-raA romantic comedy about a talented gallery curator named Sung Duk Mi, who is an idol fan-girl underneath her professional veneer. Meanwhile, her boss Ryan becomes a passionate fan-boy of her.7/10. SPICE LEVEL: 4/5