Lovers (2023)

Both are dramas the feature a ML that sees the FL for who she is and helps to facilitate her greatness. Both also have a fare amount of battle scenes.

Drama Special Season 3: Return Home is set in the Qing Dynasty & is a story depicting the struggles of the people that were taken hostage by enemies & return. There is 1 image that I think about a lot. If you watch this I bet you will guess it.

On the one hand, their settings are very different--Korean historical versus Chinese 20th century--but both tell epic tales over years of the characters' lives and interweave the maturing of the country with the maturing of the characters.

Both take a bit of time to grow attached to the characters but then you become SO sympathetic with them that the feels are intense.

Both have some romance but it is not the only ingredient (it is definitely featured more in My Dearest). Both are very well acted and nicely paced.

Both leave you feeling like you experienced something meaningful.

Both are historical dramas that involve the ML swept up in a war where the leads are separated for several years, with the ML fighting to save hostages held there as well as himself. Both FLs start out a bit naïve and high-spirited but mature greatly during the drama.

When romance is thrown in the turmoils of history.
Both dramas start like your typical romcom, boy meets girl, girl dislikes boy... (Granted, in My Dearest the FL is wearing a hanbok while in Youth of May, she's running around in jeans.)

But then, history with an H intervenes. For Youth of May, the dictature and the shadow of the Gwangju massacre are looming over the happiness of our protagonists. For My Dearest, it's the Qing invasion that sweeps them away. So, if you like a *somewhat* realistic period piece that isn't all political and that still has time for some cutesie lovey dovey stares between the lead, these dramas are for you.

In both you have the perfect balance of lightheartedness and Melo

Some part in my dearest remind me of the nokdu flower, the war, the camera shot. The nokdu flower also has some mystery characters, amazing plot and best Actor in that drama

My Dearest is giving me the vibe of Empress Ki.
Both shows highlight strong lead characters and the main trope: men vs. powerful evil
In both stories, the couples are separated due to the internation's conflict as well.
Empress Ki has a lot of palace conflicts as well as swordfighting, and battles between countries. Also here we have a female protagonist who really stands up for herself and her comrades.

Captivating the King has the same timeline with my dearest, it set during a Joseon period where people went through severe hardship due to the Qing invasion. but they have different plot.

- The Night Owl concerns Injo and the death of Crown Prince Sohyeon, which is also covered in My Dearest
- Ahn Eunjin appears in both

- Both feature characters who are followers/supporters of Crown Prince Sohyeon who become embroiled in the political turmoil surrounding his death
- Both heavily feature action and fight scenes

- Both are set during the same time period although in The Three Musketeers Crown Prince Sohyun is a protagonist

- Both are set during the same time period
- Cruel Palace is more focused on the court machinations behind Crown Prince Sohyun's death whereas My Dearest deals with the Qing invasion and its aftermath in the wider country

Historical drama about a noble losing Status and trying to survive with subtle romance. Both quality production.

While one is Chinese and the other Korean they reminded me of each other for the growth in the characters. Destined has an immature rich male lead that learns and grows through marriage and a war while My Dearest has an immature rich female lead that suffers through war and grows and changes.

Both dramas have male leads that will do anything for the female lead. Both show the ravages of war on the people and the court. Both have strong and loyal side characters.

Differences are that My Dearest shows a much more gruesome side that can be hard to watch while Destined is more slice of life with hardships sprinkled in. However the character growth in both gives the same kind of vibe to me and I think if you liked one you would probably like the other.

=> Both are kdramas of the same story: My Dearest. Each of the two shows recommended are two seasons of the same show.