Historical Dramas

This was a compelling series which got me hooked early. The premise is so interesting and I really wanted to know where it was headed and all the mystery behind Cui Jiu and Liu Mian Tang. This show just clicked all the right boxes for me: hidden identity, political intrigue, action, romance, comedy. And the antagonists got their comeuppance - always so satisfying.

FL cross-dresses and assumes her brother's identity to attend an all-male military school. ML is her roommate who falls for her. Tags: Action, Love Triangle

Historical RomCom with FL causing chaos as the first female in an all-male college.  Student - Dean relationship, where the FL pursues the ML.

Mystery, Romance, Political, Revenge. Complex characters with convoluted family relationships. Epic action and fight scenes. Leads had great chemistry. This is one of my favorites, which I binge-watched in 5 days (all 56 episodes). There was no character that was all-good or all-evil, which made them so much more interesting to me. The FL could be annoying yet, knowing where she was coming from, I could see how she learned to manipulate to survive 2nd aunt's household. The ML could be charming, protective, yet there were times he scared the sh*t out of me. Highly recommended.

Enemies-to-lovers trope where the leads have an arranged marriage early in the series. They negotiate a truce and plan to divorce once they meet certain criteria, but found they were better partners than they could have imagined. I found the ML’s mother an endearing and perfect MIL, as she imparts pearls of business wisdom to her daughter-in-law. Political and business intrigue, as well as action scenes. Leads had great rapport.

Gender bender FL as she attends an all-boys school as her brother. ML and SML are her roommates. I had massive Second Lead Syndrome watching this, as I truly rooted for the SML. Tags: Comedy, Romance, Youth, Love Triangle. 

FL's family goes through many hardships, all because of the Emperor's insecurity. Thankfully, with the FL's leadership & creativity, and the ML's support, the Hua family survives and eventually thrives again. HEA 

In the first couple of episodes, the FL's shaman acting was a bit over the top and was not meant to be taken seriously. This historical show has comedy, romance, action, and mystery. The chemistry and rapport among the FL/ML, ML/SML and FL/SML were so good. Satisfying ending.

I was not a big fan of the FL, but I adored the ML and SML. And the cast of gorgeous Hwarang warriors kept me glued to the screen. Bromance at its finest.

Time travel, fated mates, amazing production.

Set in 1930s and 1940s, Romance, Fantasy, Drama (I would say melodramatic, esp. for Song’s first and second wives). Thian has been groomed to take over the family business, but he has a secret that is costing lives. I love the relationship between brothers Yang and Thian.

Mystery, Romance, Political, Revenge. Complex characters with convoluted family relationships. Epic action and fight scenes. Leads had great chemistry. This is one of my favorites, which I binge-watched in 5 days (all 56 episodes). There was no character that was all-good or all-evil, which made them so much more interesting to me. The FL could be annoying yet, knowing where she was coming from, I could see how she learned to manipulate to survive 2nd aunt's household. The ML could be charming, protective, yet there were times he scared the sh*t out of me. Highly recommended.

FL and ML are Lords (Kings/Rulers) of their own cities. ML's father died, and he blames FL's family for the death. FL rules as a male. It is funny with lots of steamy kisses and action scenes.

Fantasy Romance Drama based on a novel where FL is married off to a family where the ML has strong powers even though she has none. I really liked this movie. ML's sister was the absolute best SIL for FL.

ML is the 6th Lord and was sickly as a child so he tends to be quieter than his brothers. FL arrives into Xin Chuan as part of the marriage selection. She is quirky and hilarious, but also generous and kind. One of the best CDramas I've seen with wonderful sismance; the wives and concubines really supported one another. Slow burn romance with satisfying ending.

ML cross-dresses to enter a widows’ village where he believes he has traced the assassins that attacked his village. As he digs deeper, he finds more than he bargained for. Great action scenes, palace intrigue, comedy, romance.

• The Untamed (China, 2019) Great acting, wonderful cinematography, political intrigue, chemistry between the MLs is fantastic. I love this Xianxia-danmei BL drama. It uses queer-coding at its best, bypassing Chinese censorship. While we don't see depictions of an actual queer relationship, there were plenty of examples of the MLs' growing closeness.
  • They call each other their soulmates.
  • Lan Zhan allows Wei Ying to touch his headband, a privilege reserved for parents or spouses. In one scene, they are attached with the headband (which many viewers liken to the red sash in a Chinese wedding ceremony).
  • Physical touching: holding each back, carrying each other, etc.
  • Flirty eyes from WY and longing gazes from LZ.
  • Drunk LZ gifted WY two chickens (Chinese betrothal gift).
  • Bowing together in front of memorial tablets.
  • Bowing together in front of Lan ancestor.
  • Bunnies saved by WY, shown kissing. Bunnies on lantern when they made their wishes/vows. Tu Shen (Chinese: 兔神; pinyin: Tùshén, The Rabbit God), is a Chinese deity of love and sex between men.

FL cross-dresses as crown prince when her twin brother is killed. She eventually becomes the monarch, is married but manages to avoid consummating the marriage.

Enemies to lovers with equally-matched ML and FL. They had a wonderful banter and chemistry.

I enjoyed every minute of this sageuk. For me, there was not a second that felt like it was dragging. Instead, it felt like watching two masters play chess where discarded pieces could very well be bodies dropping on the ground! But it was speed chess, no time to dilly dally lest your opponent gets the better of you. I esp. like the bromance between the Crown Prince and Grand Prince Sung Nam. Little romance.

Historical RomCom with FL running away from her engagement by imperial decree. Not liking being forced into marriage, she starts helping other women by opening a divorce office far from home

Epic political wuxia with hidden identities. 100% enjoyable where the FL and ML are well-matched in skill and smarts.

Prepare for campy. This show does not take itself seriously and neither should you. It is funny, has some drama as well as some political intrigue. ML and FL are in an arranged marriage.

I didn't think I would binge-watch a series I wasn't even interested in watching. Then, it was highly recommended to me and 4 days later, I had completed the 49 episodes. I laughed, I cried, I felt their angst. In certain scenes, the almost seamless action to animation transitions were quite interesting. It was a first for me to see that in a show. [I have seen it in a musical video before and loved it.] The ML and FL were both fairly even-keeled in their temperaments, and always thinking about strategy. Then, we have the SFL, perfectly acted by Zhao Lu Si, who was ruled by her emotions and the SML, who was ruled by his foster father. I loved the character growth of the main characters and some support characters. There were historical changes around them; it was realistic that they, too, changed. 

Historical RomCom with FL in a fake sibling contract with ML

Very short film that deserves to be much longer.