Drama List

Having watched a variety of dramas and will only screen more, I try my best to review what I have seen and recommend what I like. For your reference, here is a summary of the rating scale I use.

Although dependent on the genre and not completely perfect, these shows are the real sparkling gems in the vast ocean and can be labeled as “masterpieces”. The production has excellent cinematography and music, consists of solid casts and characters, and tells a story that captures the audience and is extremely engaging—exceeding viewers’ expectations every minute.

Dramas at this level or beyond are worthy of archiving and re-watching. These shows are only one step away from being stunning but they, nevertheless, deserve your time and obsession.

Shows here are well-scripted and well-executed with perhaps a few loopholes, but definitely still display a purpose and send a message. It is easy to get addicted and marathon these shows as they keep you wanting more. Memorable and recommended.

Good. Default score for shows that tried to be different but perhaps came out a bit short either in the script, acting, and/or directing.

Simply enjoyable but nowhere to the extent of gluing viewers to the television/computer screen for hours. Able to keep viewers until the end but cannot remain in their minds for years to come.

Pure definition of average. These dramas have everything any other decent dramas would have. Often clichéd, but acceptable and offer enough entertainment value to pass the time.

Minimal uniqueness. A burden to watch and a relief to finish. Maybe a funny or fascinating scene occurs now and then but nothing to get excited over. Not recommended.

For the most part, indifference is the feeling or lack of feeling with the completion of these shows. Viewers often don’t understand why/how they even managed to last till the end.

A waste of time. Strongly encouraged to stay far, far, far away. Not recommended with a passion.

Could it get any worse?

Top

In case you’re interested, below is a list of dramas I’ve completed over the years. Click the column name to sort by rating, drama title, or year.

Top Favorite Dramas

  • Funniest Stories of the Ming Royalists
  • Jewel in the Palace (Dae Jang Geum)
  • JIN
  • My Date with a Vampire I, II
  • Paradise
  • Princess Pearl I, II
  • Safe Guards
  • Stealing Dragon, Exchanging Phoenix
  • The Conqueror’s Story
  • The Good Old Days
  • The Monkey King (1982)
  • Virtues of Harmony I

Last updated on August 8, 2010.

Top
Rating Drama Title Year
4 A Bride for a Ride 2009
6 A Case of Misadventure 2002
6 A Change of Destiny 2007
8 A Chinese Ghost Story 2003
7 A Chip Off the Old Block 2010
8 A Colorful Life 2001
5 A Great Way to Care 2009
5 A Handful of Love 2004
7 A Journey Called Life 2008
6 A Kindred Spirit 1995
8 A Matter of Customs 2000
6 A Pillow Case of Mystery 2006
6 A Recipe for the Heart 1997
9 A Step into the Past 2001
8 A Taste of Love 2001
3 A Watchdog’s Tale 2010
5 All About Boyz 2002
7 All About Eve 2000
7 Always Ready 2005
4 Angels of Mission 2004
9 Aqua Heroes 2003
9 Armed Reaction I 1997
9 Armed Reaction II 2000
8 Armed Reaction III 2001
6 Armed Reaction IV 2003
8 At the Threshold of an Era I 1999
7 At the Threshold of an Era II 2000
8 Awakening Story 2001
7 Bar Benders 2006
6 Battle Against Evil 2002
5 Beauty of the Game 2010
7 Better Halves 2003
5 Beyond the Realm of Conscience 2009
8 Bodyguards (Jade Dolls) 1995
9 Book and Sword: Gratitude and Revenge 2002
9 Burning Flame I 1998
8 Burning Flame II 2002
8 Buzzer Beat 2009
9 Catch Me Now 2008
9 Coffee Prince 2008
5 Cooking Master: The Perfect Banquet 2004
9 Country Spirit 2001
7 Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 2001
7 Dance of Passion 2007
7 Death Investigation Extension 2008
7 Death Investigation Extension Again 2009
8 Detective Galileo 2007
8 Detective Investigation Files I 1995
9 Detective Investigation Files II 1996
8 Detective Investigation Files III 1997
9 Devil Beside You 2005
2 Devil’s Disciple 2007
8 Don Juan DeMercado 2010
8 Down Memory Lane 1995
7 Dragon Love 1999
8 Dream of Colours 2004
4 Dressage to Win 2008
9 Emergency Unit 2009
8 Eternal Happiness 2002
7 Face to Fate 2006
9 Fairy of the Chalice 2006
8 Family Man 2002
6 Fang De and Miao Cui Hua 2005
6 Fantasy Hotel 2005
8 Fate Twisters 2003
7 Feel 100% 2002
7 Field of Dreams 2002
4 Fire General 2002
9 Fist of Fury 1995
5 Flying Fox of the Snowy Mountain 1999
9 Forensic Heroes 2006
6 Full House 2004
7 Funniest Story of the Ming Royalists 2001
7 Ghost Writer 2010
8 Golden Faith 2002
6 Good Against Evil 2002
7 Good Lover Bad Partner 1998
7 Greatness of a Hero 2009
7 Greed Mask 2003
3 Guts of Man 2005
9 Hana Yori Dango 2005
8 Hanazakari no Kimitachi e 2007
8 Hap Hak Hang 1989
8 Happy Ever After 1999
8 Happy Flying Dragon 1998
7 Hard Fate 2004
9 Healing Hands I 1998
8 Healing Hands II 2000
6 Healing Hands III 2005
7 Hearts of Fencing 2003
8 Heartstrings 1994
9 Heavenly Sword Dragon Sabre 2003
6 Heavenly Sword Dragon Sabre 2000
8 Heroine of the Yang 1998
7 Hidden Treasures 2004
4 Honey! Watch Out 2003
7 Hotaru no Hikari 2007
8 Hotelier 2001
4 Hua Gu Zi 2004
9 I Have a Date with Spring 1995
8 In the Chamber of Bliss 2009
5 In the Eye of the Beholder 2010
7 Into Thin Air 2005
6 Invisibile Journey 2002
9 It Started with a Kiss 2005
10 Jewel in the Palace (Dae Jang Geum) 2003
10 JIN 2009
7 Journey of Love 1995
9 Journey to the West I 1996
8 Journey to the West II 1997
7 Just Love 2005
7 Just Love II 2009
8 King of Yesterday and Tomorrow 2003
6 Kung Fu Master 2000
6 Kung Fu Soccer 2004
9 La Femme Desperado 2006
6 Lady Fan 2004
7 Lady Flower Fist 1997
8 Lady Warriors of the Yang 2001
7 Legend of a Chinese Hero 1998
3 Legend of Chor Lau Heung 2000
8 Legend of Dagger Lee 1999
5 Legend of Heaven and Earth, the Mermaid 2001
6 Legend of Lady Yang 2000
7 Legend of Love 2003
6 Legend of the Butterfly Lovers 2000
8 Legend of the Condor Heroes 1994
6 Legend of the Demigods 2008
9 Legend of the Magic Mirror 2005
9 Legendary Four Aces 2000
7 Legendary Siblings 1999
6 Lethal Weapons of Love and Passion 2006
5 Let’s Face It 2002
7 Life Made Simple 2005
5 Lofty Water Verdant Bow 2003
3 Lost in the Chamber of Love 2004
8 Love and Again 2003
9 Love Bond 2005
8 Love is Beautiful 2001
6 Love of Generations 1996
4 Man in Charge 2009
8 Meteor Garden 2001
9 Miracle Healers 2004
9 Misleading Track 2005
8 Mission in Trouble 2002
6 Moon Fairy 2003
8 Moon Lovers (Tsuki no Koibito) 2010
8 Moonlight Resonance 2008
7 Mr. Brain 2009
6 My Better Half 2010
9 My Date with a Vampire I 1998
10 My Date with a Vampire II 2000
8 My Date with a Vampire III 2004
4 My Family 2005
5 My Older Sister (Noona) 2006
5 Net Deception 2004
8 No Turning Back 2006
9 Nobuta wo Produce 2005
10 Nodame Cantabile 2006
9 Nodame Cantabile in Europe 2008
8 Not Just a Pretty Face 2003
6 O.L. Supreme 2010
5 Old House Has Joy 1999
10 Old Time Buddy I 1997
6 Old Time Buddy II 1998
9 On Air 2008
8 On the Track or Off 2001
4 Original Scent of Summer 2003
9 Pages of Treasures 2008
5 Palm of Ru Lai 2002
9 Paradise 2004
7 Perish in the Name of Love 2003
9 Permutation 2005
6 Placebo Cure 2004
9 Plain Love I 1995
6 Plain Love II 1999
8 Point of No Return 2003
7 Police Station No. 7 2002
8 Present 2004
9 Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon 2004
10 Princess Pearl I 1998
8 Princess Pearl II 1999
5 Princess Pearl III 2003
6 Queen of Cake 2002
6 Reaching Out 2001
4 Real Kung Fu 2005
7 Return of the Condor Heroes 1998
8 Return of the Condor Heroes (Savior of the Soul) 2006
7 Return of the Cuckoo 2000
6 Revolving Doors of Vengeance 2005
8 Riches and Stiches 2004
9 Romance in the Rain 2001
10 Rosy Business 2009
9 Safe Guards 2006
5 Scavenger’s Paradise 2005
7 Seed of Hope 2003
8 Seven Sisters 2001
6 Shaolin Seven 1999
8 Shine on You 2004
7 Slim Chances 2002
8 Smart Kid 2000
8 Southern Shaolin 2002
4 Split Second 2004
7 Square Pegs 2003
6 Stamp of Love 2002
9 Stealing Dragon Exchanging Phoenix I 2001
4 Stealing Dragon Exchanging Phoenix II 2002
7 Steps 2007
6 Summer Heat 2004
6 Sunshine Heartbeat 2004
8 Survivor’s Law I 2003
6 Survivor’s Law II 2008
5 Suspects in Love 2010
8 Sweetness in the Salt 2009
6 Swordsman I 1999
6 Swordsman II 1999
7 Swordsman III 1999
7 Taiji Prodigy 2000
9 Take My Word for It 2002
8 Tears in Heaven 1997
6 Ten Brothers 2007
8 Ten Tigers of Guangdong 1999
7 The Academy 2005
7 The Biter Bitten 2006
6 The Blind Detective 2006
8 The Charm Beneath 2005
8 The Ching Emperor 1994
10 The Conqueror’s Story 2004
6 The Crimson Sabre 2000
5 The Driving Power 2003
8 The Duke of Mount Deer 2000
9 The Duke of Mount Deer 1998
5 The Family Link 2007
7 The Four 2008
5 The Gateau Affairs 2005
8 The Gentle Crackdown 2005
10 The Good Old Days 1996
8 The Green Grass of Home 2007
8 The Green Hope 2000
6 The Herbalist’s Manual 2005
6 The King of Snooker 2009
8 The Last Breakthrough 2004
7 The Luckiest Man 2003
5 The Master of Tai Chi 1997
10 The Monkey King 1982
4 The Monkey King (Quest for the Sutra) 2000
8 The Price of Greed 2006
6 The Prince’s Shadow 2005
9 The Righteous Guards 1998
6 The Season of Fate 2010
7 The Seventh Day 2008
9 The Silver Chambers of Sorrow 2008
6 The Snow is Red 1996
5 The Stew of Life 2009
4 The Threshold of a Persona 2009
9 The Vampire Returns 1993
8 The W Files 2003
6 The White Flame 2002
3 The Winter Melon Tale 2009
9 Time Before Time 1997
8 To Catch the Uncatchable 2004
8 To Get Unstuck in Time 2004
4 To Grow with Love 2006
5 To Love with no Regrets 2004
8 Tough Side of a Lady 1997
8 Treasure Basin 2004
5 Treasure Raiders 2002
8 Treasure Venture 2000
7 Trimming Success 2006
8 Triumph in the Skies 2003
6 Twin of Brothers 2004
7 Ultra Protection 1999
8 Under the Canopy of Love 2006
8 Unnatural Born Killer 1996
8 Untraceable Evidence I 1998
7 Untraceable Evidence II 1999
8 Ups and Downs in the Sea of Love 2002
5 Vagabond Vigilante 2006
7 Vigilante Force 2003
6 Vigilante in the Mask 2003
9 Virtues of Harmony I 2001
8 Virtues of Harmony II 2003
8 War and Beauty 2004
7 War and Destiny 2007
9 War of the Genders 2000
4 War of the In-Laws I 2005
9 War of the In-Laws II 2008
6 Web of Love 2000
6 Whatever It Takes 2002
7 When Dreams Come True 2002
9 When Easterly Showers Fall on the Sunny West 2008
8 When Rules Turn Loose 2005
9 Where the Legend Begins 2002
8 Winter Sonata 2002
8 Witness to a Prosecution I 2000
6 Witness to a Prosecution II 2002
7 Wong Fei Hung (Master of Kung Fu) 2004
6 World’s Finest 2005
7 Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge 2010
8 Yankee-kun to Megane-chan 2010
8 You’re Hired 2009
8 Yummy Yummy (Food for Life) 2005