DRAMA RECS PART 9

 

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII

I haven't done one of these in almost a YEAR--that's wild!!! A fresh round of recommendations is definitely needed. 

In these horrific times, watching Asian dramas with my sibling is a fun, educational, entertaining activity that keeps me from falling into despair. As I have mentioned in earlier installments of this series (linked above), I highly recommend diving into Asian media, especially TV shows. To date I've tried Taiwanese, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Pinoy, Malay, Singaporean, Hindi, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Thai shows. My personal tastes tend to lean towards rom-coms or mystery series, but there are a plethora of options for any and every taste: time travel, historical fiction, horror, courtroom dramas, sci-fi, etc. 

I usually watch dramas through Netflix, Viki, Dailymotion, and YouTube, although occasionally you can find them on other sites. Some dramas are more difficult to access if you're based in the U.S. 

1. The First Frost (2025)

The First Frost is a Chinese drama with 32 episodes. The plot is as follows: Shy and somber Wen Yifan used to be high classmates and close friends with the flippant but friendly San Yan. The two harbor a mutual crush, but Wen Yifan is so traumatized by her tumultuous home life (which nobody knows the full extent of), that she rejects his feelings, causing them to drift apart. Wen Yifan spends the next few years struggling with sleep due to the ongoing harassment and trauma she faces. Six years later, she and Sang Yan run into one another again and, putting aside their past, become platonic roommates. Their relationship changes shape with the discovery that Wen Yifan has escalated to sleepwalking--and it appears the only thing that gives her enough comfort to sleep is Sang Yan.

The way this show handled the effects of sexual harassment and abuse culture without veering into trauma porn was impressive. Not perfect, but so far the best I've seen in a Chinese drama. Despite its darker themes, it was a calm and steady romance with a well-deserved happy ending. Wen Yifan's character may be quiet and (seemingly) passive, but I really liked her--she is dedicated to her work, a good friend to the few she trusts, and funny in her own way. The tension between her and Sang Yan, whose abrasive delivery never obscured his devotion to her, was unique and interesting. Yifan as a character is so used to having her boundaries violated that she is constantly in survival mode, and it was fascinating to see how Sang Yan navigated ensuring she felt safe by acting like she was being rude, burdensome, or pressing on his bruised heart if she didn't take the biggest bedroom, let him pay a bigger chunk of the rent, eat food he'd cooked for her, etc. It was charming to watch Sang Yan be such a loyal, kindhearted lover boy while maintaining a "don't f with me" attitude, and the chemistry between the actors was immaculate. The secondary couple (their respective best friends) was also adorable--it's rare to find a drama where both love lines are equally enjoyable. I appreciated the glimmers of other progressive themes as well--Yifan's coworker has a baby out of wedlock with a younger man (and is treated with respect and dignity instead of as a cautionary tale), and filial piety does not mean accepting or ignoring abuse. 

Content warnings: physical and sexual violence, workplace harassment, street harassment, sexual harassment, sleepwalking, emotional/psychological abuse, familial abuse, abuse apologism, drinking, medical/hospital scenes, murder, kidnapping, death, abandonment, allusions to suicide, dementia 

2. From Now on Showtime (2022)

From Now on Showtime is a Korean drama with 16 episodes. The story focuses on Cha Cha Ung, a popular, if somewhat sardonic, stage and TV magician whose tricks are made possible by his secret helpers: a trio of ghosts. Cha Cha Ung comes from a line of shamans, but treats the spirits as his employees. One day, his path crosses with that of Ko Seul Hae, a young, passionate police officer, who believes his unusual abilities could be the perfect crime-fighting tool. As their unorthodox partnership blossoms into romance, a dark evil awakens, and they discover that their fates have been long intertwined. 

I looooove a plot with ghosts that leans into found family/comedy elements, and this one was amazing. There are a lot of genres in this blend, but every element contributed to the story in a way that made sense. There was just enough comedy to keep me from feeling depressed, while also allowing the sadder moments to make their emotional impact. All of the actors played their parts perfectly, and I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between the three ghosts and Cha Ung. The balance between the "case of the week" and the overarching plot involving the main villain was well-done, and the pacing made every episode feel worth watching. 

Content warnings: police, ghosts/the afterlife, possession, shamanism, blood, fire, death (stabbing), physical violence, car accidents

3. Marahuyo Project (2024)

Marahuyo Project is a Pinoy drama with 8 episodes. The story follows King as he journeys through the highly traditional town of Marahuyo, meeting new friends and finding love along the way as he lobbies to create the first LGBTQIA+ org in their campus.

This was such an unexpected gem! Firstly, the inclusivity and quality of the representation was incredible. One of King's friends is intersex, something I've never seen even referenced in an Asian drama before. I also loved how genuine the writing was--the characters feel like real people with real problems and dreams, which ensured that their relationships felt believable as well. I was so glad they all found each other. Venice was a HOOT, and her dynamic with Archie was so warm and supportive despite their opposite approaches to their queerness. I appreciated how the plot connected the group's fight for recognition and respect to the island's history with colonialism. The energy we were left with was so hopeful--I would love if they eventually put out a second season. 

Content warnings: transphobia/homophobia, religious trauma, mentions of death, elements of colonialism, mentions of cheating 

4. Hana Kim (2007)

Hana Kimi is a Japanese drama with 12 episodes. This hilarious comedy follows the chaos, troubles, and friendship at a boys' boarding school. Ashiya Mizuki has just come back to Japan from California, and pretends to be a boy in order to attend the school. Her motive is to help Sano Izumi, a hopeful high jump hero, who quit after an incident (that she believes to be her fault). 

If you like She's the Man, you'll love what this has going on. But it's not just Mizuki's storyline that I loved--every character in this wacky ensemble piece made it a joy to watch. The comedic chaos within the friend group and wacky scenarios reminded me a lot of OHSHC and Haikyuu, and I genuinely had such a great time. It was refreshing to see the concept of bisexuality/mlw romance handled mostly respectfully from a 2007 piece of media--from Sano kissing every guy in the dorm whenever he is drunk (which no one has a problem with, including him), to Nakatsu's concerns over his blossoming feelings for Mizuki focusing mostly on how two fathers would navigate parent-teacher conferences, to the inclusion of two canonically gay side characters. I didn't love the recurring joke about the gay nurse being harassed by the female photographer (who is apparently a man in the manga?) but other than that, it was pretty respectful. 

Content warnings: drinking, kissing while drunk, allusions to nudity, gay panic with shades of biphobia/homphobia, minor harassment, injuries, minor violence, sexism