It was just four years ago that I saw a show trending online, so much so that I was persuaded into watching it. What makes this show so different from the others I’ve previously watched in my life was that it was entirely in Korean — yes, a k-drama! This did not stop me, and therefore it was only the beginning of a long list of shows — in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese — that I’ve watched since. I’ll save you the spoilers because I want those who are reading to experience the rollercoaster of emotions each of my recommendations has to offer.
- Twenty-Five Twenty-One — Netflix
I only just watched this show August of last year. It has been trending on social media for years, to the point where I knew exactly how the show ended, but I only had one question… how? I was so curious as to how it got to that point and so I made the decision to sit down and find out. The entire show is a flashback, “presently” set in 2020 but mostly incorporating events that go as far back as 1998. It follows the main character Hee-do Na and her journey to becoming a world-renowned fencer, as well as her complicated relationship with Yi-jin Baek, an older man dealing with financial losses from the IMF crisis in Korea but with dreams of his own regardless of that. I placed this drama as my number one because it emotionally impacted me the most! The storyline was realistic, perhaps unreasonably so, but it is the raw reality of life sometimes. It had both lighthearted and emotional moments, meaningful friendships, and lessons all throughout its 16 episodes. Even thinking back on it makes me feel the emotions all over again, and that is all the effects of great writing and acting.
- First Love — Netflix
This show was my introduction to Japanese dramas back in December 2022. It starts in the 1990’s, and it’s a sweet love story between Yae Noguchi and Harumichi Namiki — two high school sweethearts. While Harumichi joins the Air Force after high school, Yae goes to college with the possibility of studying abroad. This causes a brief argument between the two lovers, but when Harumichi would turn back to apologize, everything would change. Of course, this drama had an emotional impact on me, but it wasn’t without its heartwarming moments. It showed a 16-year-old me that while high school may seem like a big deal when you’re in it, in the grand scheme of things it truly doesn’t matter; life has its unexpected moments, and change is something we must come to terms with. I couldn’t recommend it enough, and I might just rewatch it!
- Business Proposal — Netflix
This k-drama is a classic, I watched it as soon as it dropped in August 2022. The main lead Ha-ri Shin helps her best friend out by filling in for her on blind dates and essentially scaring off the guys so her parents would stop trying to set her up. Though reluctant, she attends one blind date in particular which just so happens to be with the CEO of her company, Tae-moo Kang! It is a romantic comedy that not only centers around the main couple but also has a subsequentplotline for the best friends of the leads. It’s funny, lighthearted, and an easy watch for a first-time show — or if you’retired of the heartache other shows have to offer.
- Hidden Love — Netflix
Leaning more towards the cheerful shows, this Chinese drama is a wonderful place to start. It dropped not too long ago, August 2023, and it was such an easy binge! It centers around Zhi Sang and her development from a young schoolgirl to a mature woman in college. As a young girl, she had a crush on her older brother’s best friend, Jia Xu Duan. I thought her crush was the epitome of girlhood, it was something unreachable but pure and endearing. As she got older, focusing on her studies in college, she grew closer to Jia Xu and that was only the beginning for them. It’s one of my favorite shows to rewatch because it’s not only lovey-dovey but it also deals with familial aspects — it is a coming-of-age romcom.
- When I Fly Towards You — Netflix
August 2023 was a great time for drama lovers such as myself, the amount of shows to binge-watch were limitless and I mourn it every day. If you’re a fan of high school romances, this Chinese drama is no different! It follows an energetic Zai Zai Su and her huge crush on her stoic classmate Lu Rang Zhang. It is yet another coming-of-age story, following not only their journey together but also their group of friends as they make it through high school and ultimately college. As an almost 17-year-old who hadn’t even started her senior year of high school yet, it was something bittersweet to watch but it also made me excited for what was to come. Of course, they failed to mention the amount of homework I’d get each week and how much I would be spending on textbooks in college… but it’s a wholesome show, nonetheless.
If it wasn’t already obvious, I am a big fan of romance dramas — both the comedic and the devastating ones. This list is quite biased in that way, but I hope I’ve inspired at least a few people to sit through one of these shows because they do not disappoint. Needless to say, my email is always open for any drama recommendations and future suggestions for reviews!
