#DramaRecsChallenge! #AsianDrama
Day 1: Recommend a first drama
#Kdrama modern, Descendants Of The Sun (2016). The lead couple, 2nd lead couple, bromance. Starring Song Joong Ki, Song Hye Kyo, Jin Goo, Kim Ji Won.
#Cdrama #Xianxia Eternal Love (2017). The story, production, the acting: Yang Mi, Mark Chao, Vin Zhang, Gao Wei Guang, Dilraba Dilmurat.
#Jdrama Shōgun (2024). Epic historical.
#TwDrama modern. A Thousand Goodnights (2019). Family story, the acting, train travel around Taiwan.
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Day 2: An Epic Love Story
Eternal Love (2017) aka Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossom, with Mark Chao, Yang Mi. (Wikipedia: As of 1 August 2018, 50 billion views, the most watched television series in the world.)
Love And Destiny (2019), based on Three Lives, Three Worlds: Eternal Destiny of Chen Xi, with Chang Chen, Ni Ni.
Same universe as TMOPB, but a separate story thousand of years before, male leads are God of War.
#DramaRecsChallenge! #AsianDrama
Day 3: A Gripping Thriller
#Kdrama Iris (2009)
Espionage, Action, North & South Korea elements, Crime, International scenes. Top- notch acting all the way around led by Lee Byung Hun.
Watch the original drama instead of the movie, which is basically a shortened recap.
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Day 4: A Powerful Performance
#Jdrama Shōgun (2024), actress Anna Sawai, for her powerful portrayal of Lady Toda Mariko. Strong, graceful, defiant, loyal, brave. Anna Sawai won the Best Actress Emmy 2024 and Golden Globe 2025, and so well deserved. The scenes at Osaka Castle are so powerful and memorable, Mariko facing questioning by the council, and when she and her group defiantly try to leave. Shōgun also won the Best Drama Emmy 2024 & Golden Globe 2025.
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Day 5: A Compelling Historical
#Cdrama Legend Of Chu And Han (2012), aka King's War (Netflix), 80 episodes.
Historical figures Liu Bang of Chu and Xiang Yu of Western Chu join together to overthrow the Qin dynasty (206 BC). Afterwards, a power struggle ensues between the two, known in Chinese history as the Chu-Han Contention (206-202 BC). Powerful acting by our leads Chen Daoming as Liu Bang (founder of the Han dynasty 202 BC) and Peter Ho as King Xiang Yu.
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Day 6: An Office Romance
#Cdrama Love Is Sweet (2020). Primarily because actors Luo Yun Xi and Bai Lu were a cute couple. Former childhood friends meet again as rivals in an investnent firm. It was a pleasant watch.
(Side note: Luo Yun Xi and Bai Lu are also a #xianxia couple in Till The End Of The Moon, 2023).
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Day 7: An Ensemble Cast
There's a few dramas I could have picked. This one is female-centric.
#Cdrama modern, Ode To Joy (2016), starring Liu Tao, Jiang Xin, Wang Zi Wen, Yang Zi, Qiao Xin.
Five women live on Floor 22 of the Ode To Joy apartments in Shanghai. From different backgrounds, the women become friends, and a support system for each other as they navigate careers, family, and love.
I can only recommend Season 1 & 2. The cast/story changed in S3.
#DramaRecsChallenge! #AsianDrama
Day 8: A Slice Of Life
#Kdrama Our Blues (2022).
Set on Jeju Island, this "slice of life" drama covers mature themes and has a diverse neighborhood vibe. Ensemble cast includes Lee Buyn Hun, Shin Min Ah, Cha Seong Won, Lee Jung Eun, Uhm Jung Hwa, Han Ji Min, Kim Woo Bin, Kim Hye Ja, Go Doo Shim. Jung Eun Hye, an actress and artist with Down's Syndrome, plays a sister with the same disorder who also draws. Some of the characters are Haenyeo (female divers).
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Day 9: A Twisty Revenge
#Cdrama historical, Kill Me Love Me (2024).
Mei Lin loses everything and vows revenge on the person she feels is responsible. To fulfill her mission, she gives up her freedom to become an assassin. Prince Murong Jing He earns the reputation as "Butcher General" for a massacre he and his men claim they didn't do. He seeks the truth and sets an elaborate plot in motion. The two revenges are entangled as things are not as they seem.
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Day 10: A Found Family
#Kdrama Kimchi Family (2011, aka Fermentation Family)
Lee Kang San's family owns the popular restaurant, Chunjiin (Heaven, Earth and Man), that makes original kimchi dishes. Ho Tae, a man with an unfortunate past and troubled life, one day visits Chunjiin. When Kang San steps in to help Ho Tae during an altercation, he later becomes accepted into her "family" and helps out. The father absently and accidentally finds a past connection.
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Day 11: All The Tropes
#Kdrama #sageuk Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)
A classic. Joseon era drama set at Sungkyunkwan Univ., an all boys school. Cross-dressing, hidden identities, mistaken identity, reverse-harem, rich boys, poor girl, rich bully, corrupt officials, political schemes, family issues, secret love interest, 2nd male syndrome, girl is secretly protected, bromance. There's likely a piggy-back in there.
Add, a dashing Yoo Ah In, sassy Song Joong Ki.
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Day 12: Stunning Production Design
#Cdrama #xianxia Ashes Of Love (2018)
A few years ago, this was my first cdrama and xianxia when I joined Netflix. Since then I've watched many more, but the imagery in Ashes Of Love still stands out. From the opulent Heavenly Realm, colorful Flower Realm, dark Demon Realm, natural Mortal Realm, each had a distinct look with several areas depicted throughout each realm (63 episodes). The sets and costumes also stood out.
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Day 15: Some Undeniable Chemistry
Yang Mi and Mark Chao, as Nine-tailed Fox Bai Qian and Crown Prince Ye Hua of the Nine Heavens respectively, in #Cdrama #xianxia Eternal Love, Ten Miles Of Peach Blossoms. This drama was also my recommendation for "an epic love story." I can't imagine any other pair of actors playing these roles, and so convincingly. The scene at the East Sea Water Lord's banquet in Episode 30 is my favorite (out of 58 episodes).
Fanua 🌐
AnnaAnthro
Jenni S