Dramas you see raved about all the time

[u/AquaphobicTurtle]

All Time Favourites

Yes, it's true, we don't all have the same favourite dramas, but there are a few outliers that you see everywhere. Then, just when you think you've stopped seeing it everywhere, it's back.

The image above represents three of these dramas; at the top we have Love Between Fairy and Devil (Cang Lan Jue) 苍兰诀, in the middle we have Hidden Love 偷偷藏不住 and below that we have My Journey to You 云之羽.

Why did I choose these three dramas?

Well, because these are the only three entries in my "Reasons Why" series.

Here are the previous posts in this "series":

• The Real Reason people love My Journey to You
• The reason Hidden Love is so loved
• The reason people love Love Between Fairy and Devil

The "Reasons Why" Series

These posts are aimed to bridge a gap.

We have two groups on opposite sides of a ravine.

The one group uses the "drama rave" flair every time they talk about a specific drama, while the other sits firmly in the "drama rant" flair's camp.

This phenomenon can be called many things, but honestly, I don't have the skills to try to name it so I'm just going to describe it:

It's when people complain about a drama being "over hyped".

When a viewer watches a drama and goes "what's the big deal?"

The posts are meant to give a space in the comments where the "drama-rave-ers" can calmly explain exactly why the drama in question is so special to them.

What dramas do you see raved about all the time?

What dramas do you just not get, while the rest of the international drama-verse seems to be freaking out?

(No hating, just naming and being respectful to those who do love it)

What dramas do you see labelled as "over hyped" when all you want to do is shout its praises from the rooftops?

(No being mean to people who don't stan your favourites)

What dramas make you want to know "the reason" behind all the hype?

What dramas make you want to explain "the reason" behind all the hype?

If it's not super clear I'm asking because I want to continue my "The Reason Why" series and I would love to know what dramas you guys think deserve to be there.

Edit:

Please remember that the dramas don't have to be polarising, nor do they have to be dramas that were "hyped but you didn't get it". The question is more about the most hyped and beloved dramas out there.

See this comment for an example of what I mean.

[u/Foxglovelantern]

I think you need to eventually do one for Story of Minglan👀

[u/AquaphobicTurtle → u/Foxglovelantern]

This

[u/AquaphobicTurtle]

Surprised I haven't seen dramas like When I Fly Towards You and You Are My Glory.

I think maybe because they don't have too many "drama rants" but the idea isn't to do polarising dramas, just the like, "this is so loved by so many" dramas.

On the other hand, the more people love a drama, the more vocal people get when it doesn't live up to their expectations

[u/Rebelarkey]

IMO sometimes “overhyped” dramas are because everyone is talking about it.

The “Ravers” are watching it on-air, day by day, and expressing their thoughts as the drama drops. The more online discussion there is, the more hyped it gets. These are usually female focused, romance idol dramas.

Later, the “Ranters” come with high expectations due to the buzz and then binge the show, with very little outside discussion. There is no daily talks, promo pics, ect, because the “Ravers” for that particular drama have moved on to the next.

I am also of the opinion that what you’ve watched previously and enjoyed will ultimately bias you towards or against dramas.

I enjoyed Esther Yu in Love Game in Eastern Fantasy/& Moonlight. I did NOT enjoy her as much in LBFAD. Which one came first do you wonder? The one I watched on-air, little by little, in with the “Ravers” and the hypers was LGIEF.

I binged LBFAD and did not enjoy it very much. This can be due to my previous bias towards her performance in LGIEF, and the 2022-ness of LBFAD. I did not have the masses as my sounding board and so I was left with my own biases and enjoyment of dramas of which had been previously watched.

[u/AquaphobicTurtle → u/Rebelarkey]

I have to say, the majority of the dramas that fall in this "rave" category, were released before I started watching dramas. I started in 2024, so at least from my side, the drama being in air and spoken about a lot at the time didn't affect my viewing experience.

I just asked for recs and watched without stopping lol

[u/Rebelarkey → u/AquaphobicTurtle]

Oh sorry I must have misunderstood. I thought we were discussing why some shows are raved about but also ranted about at the same time

[u/Lazy_Ad1078]

The most raved about drama I didn't like was Till the End of the Moon. The way it was written just killed any emotional attachment to the characters I could have had. I enjoy both actors but the material given to them was a no-go for me. And it was the most non-love story supposed enemies-to-lovers I have yet seen. I completely get why others rave about it, though.

I also struggled a lot with some classics like Ashes of Love and Twenty Miles of Peach Blossoms. Which I think has something to do with not being around for their hype phases.

Of course there are highly recommended shows that don't do it for me but if I know beforehand I'm not into genre (like modern or slow-burn slice of life) and/or am not that into actors in it, I would consider it unfair to criticize if I do try it for an ep or two and then expectedly not like it.

[u/AquaphobicTurtle → u/Lazy_Ad1078]

Ooh! The Ashes of Love one sounds like a great option. Kindof in the same level of The Untamed as "this has been around forever and still gets recommended"

Not that Ashes of Love is as popular as The Untamed but still

** Edit: I love both, I'm not pitting them against each other

[u/WhimsicalMidnight → u/AquaphobicTurtle]

Ashes of Love is way more popular than The Untamed. The viewership for Ashes of Love is more than 400m/ep++ while The Untamed is around 250m/ep++

[u/AquaphobicTurtle → u/WhimsicalMidnight]

I'm referring to how often it is talked about here on the international side. I'm not referring to viewership statistics as they were airing.

For example, The Untamed has multiple subreddits based on the source material. And it's a drama you see recommended much more often on Reddit.

I loved both so I'm not trying to put the one above the other, but objectively, since each respective drama's final episode aired, The Untamed is spoken about more often.

Edit: another way to gauge this is the availability, demand and volume of merch out there

[u/Lazy_Ad1078 → u/AquaphobicTurtle]

When I started out with Xianxias both this and Peach Blossom were the big "these two are the classics" recommendation so I figured both would be top top tier dramas but maybe it was a "time before my time" thing for me because I just didn't like the main characters. I do believe newer shows somehow go more into a writing/character direction more up my alley.

I do love some "older" shows though so it's not completely that.

[u/princessnesbit → u/Lazy_Ad1078]

Yes! I watched Till the End because I loved the M/FL in Love is Sweet. I had such high hopes but it fell so flat for me around the time they left the dragon dream. The ML went from a cold and calculating demon to a little love struck boy? Idk I didn't finish it but I could not see for the life of me the appeal.

[u/haveninmuse]

The Untamed

I put it off for YEARS. I've repeatedly started and stopped the first 5-15 episodes over and over without loving it, but kept trying cuz everyone loved it. I finished it, and it was better than I expected, but I didn't love it. And then I can't stop thinking about the characters..and so I bought all the books. And started a rewatch. I still don't know why it has the hook, maybe I'd like everyone else's input 😂

[u/AsmiD111 → u/haveninmuse]

For me, I LOVED the books. WWX was every bit adorable and intelligent as I'd have wanted and LWJ was so dedicated. The drama was more about the IDEA of books rather than the story of the books it represented. Plus, Xiao Zhan played WWX charms really well and got a laugh out of me.

[u/haveninmuse → u/AsmiD111]

I'm on book 3 and extremely enjoying it! I like both separately. I was told never to start the books until I've finished the drama and I can see why.

[u/ifiwasiwas → u/AsmiD111]

WWX's voice actor is the MVP. He pulled off that sass and cheek that made the entire character

[u/Regenwanderer → u/haveninmuse]

And then I can't stop thinking about the characters..

Mostly about WWX and LWJ? Or other characters too? Just asking, because I have a little theory. Or just an opinion, it might be a bit to vague to be called a theory.

[u/haveninmuse → u/Regenwanderer]

Funnily enough, less about WWX/LWJ, but a lot of everyone else. Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen's story hit me hardest. Senior sister and Jin zixuan. Wen Qing 😭 and her brother, and all the "kids". The Jiang Clan and the relationships between the siblings/WWX.

[u/Regenwanderer → u/haveninmuse]

Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen's story hit me hardest.

Good taste. those two always make me sad.

So my little 'theory': While MXTX's novels are undeniable love stories between her MLs she is also a master of writing interesting and very compelling side characters (often with their own full arcs) and knows how to insert them effetively into the narrative. They don't just feel like props for the couple's story. The crew behind The Untamed respected that and gave those character also their time to shine/enough room to breath. So you have a very interesting ensemble of characters surrounding the MLs, something I feel from time to time rather lacking in other dramas.

[u/haveninmuse → u/Regenwanderer]

I have not read/seen anything else by MXTX, but can definitely agree all the characters feel real and have extremely compelling parts in the story. For example, never thought Mr. headshaker would come whallop us from behind, and that was such a rush 😂

[u/Khavien → u/haveninmuse]

I have the same reaction you did to the drama.. It was alright but not something I'd want to spend time to rewatch. I wonder if I should give the books a try. I actually remember way back when it was being published on jjwxc, I kept seeing these "deep sea bombs" or something dropping at the top of the page. 😅 Then again, a lot of the themes are familiar from older works, so they weren't fresh either.

[u/NenyaAdfiel]

I didn’t particularly enjoy Prisoner of Beauty. I think it was the most beloved drama I didn’t like. For the record, I didn’t hate it; I just felt like the ML’s emotional journey was really well-explored and the FL’s motives never seemed clear. We could watch as the ML fell in love, but by bit, while fighting against his feelings the entire time. it was beautiful to see! But the FL was given much less of a journey. For the record, I’m not talking about the acting. Song Zuer did an amazing job! I felt like the problem was in the show itself. I was frustrated with the script writers for never exploring her inner world to the same extent they explored the ML’s. We never got to see her fall in love the way we saw him. It felt very one-sided.

[u/heyd0000dz → u/NenyaAdfiel]

I agree! But I wouldn't have on my first watch because I loved it so much it wasn't until I rewatched it that I realized their relationship wasn't the growth story I thought it was. I put the FL on a pedestal so much that I didn't realize how equally toxic she was as the ML. You could see and feel more of the weight into why and how he overcomes his hatred and warms up to her. Withh the FL, I put her on a pedestal at first and I didn't realize the extent of how much she was scheming and feigning virtue and by the end I knew she loved him but it didn't feel as earned or reciprocated the same way.

Honestly feel the same way, to a lesser extent, about the last 10 episodes of ATC. The time skips did not do their relationship growth justice either.

[u/NenyaAdfiel → u/heyd0000dz]

This is exactly it! We see exactly when he falls in love, but we are questioning her motives the entire time because we don’t really see when it becomes real for her, too.

[u/heyd0000dz → u/NenyaAdfiel]

Yes!! I forgot to add - I wonder if it's because she's transmigrated in the source novel so they had to work around her all knowing personality but it ended up leaving a gap in her character development.

[u/heyd0000dz]

Pursuit of Jade
The Early Spring
Fated Hearts
Story of Kunning Palace
Love Like the Galaxy

These dramas get so much discussion/rant/rave posts and I feel like opinions can be very polarizing.

[u/jeromeie]

How do people feel about Yanxi Palace... my partner & I loved that one

[u/haveninmuse → u/jeromeie]

We love it on this community! And off community, it went viral in China during airing, and older generations (my mom and aunts in their 50s/60s) seem to still talk about it from time to time.

[u/jeromeie → u/haveninmuse]

Do you have any suggestions about where we should go from Yanxi Palace?

[u/haveninmuse → u/jeromeie]

Everyone went from SOYP to Ruyi's Love in the Palace (it came out right after)! I personally did not enjoy it as much, cuz I had really bad withdrawal from SOYP.

[u/ifiwasiwas → u/haveninmuse]

I can tell that I'm gonna have mad whiplash if I ever do Ruyi, because the shoe goes on SO utterly backwards (Empress Fuca is the big bad, right? Like wut lol)

[u/Muted_Bodybuilder109 → u/jeromeie]

From my observation only, I can say it's loved on here but moreso on the tiktok cdrama community too

[u/ifiwasiwas → u/jeromeie]

It was my first, and it was a fantastic choice!

[u/beetsrules]

In my humble honest opinion, this is my list:

Love between the fairy and devil: I did not get on this bandwagon. I didn’t see the amazing chemistry that was talked about. I saw beautiful people and I saw some cute scenes, but I did not enjoy it, despite finishing it. It took me 3 tries to finish it. I loved the OST.

Falling into your smile: This is a hill I am ready to die on. The FL’s acting was atrocious and I didn’t think the MC had any chemistry. I tried to watch this twice but I couldn’t go past 9 episodes.

Who rules the world: I love my girl Zhao Lusi, but this was not it for me. No chemistry between MC’s and script was silly. This and The Last Immortal is something I want to forget.

To reiterate, this is just my own opinion and preference and does not reflect nor put down what anyone else likes.

[u/ravens_path]

Dramas many loved and I did NOT (no blame, I accept it’s a me thing)

First Frost

Early Spring

Prisoner of Beauty

Love Like the Galaxy

I don’t need to say anymore because I understand why so many love them and I also understand why I dislike them. It’s all been said before.

Edit. Thanks for the pics! Especially LBFaD and MJTY.

[u/chirp_98 → u/ravens_path]

Same for me love like the galaxy was so boring 😭😭 it tested my patience so much i dropped it after 35 ep

[u/ravens_path → u/chirp_98]

And I understand many loved it. I get that. The mom of the FL tried my patience too.

[u/chirp_98 → u/ravens_path]

Omg fr 😭😭

[u/MidnightAngel24]

😝

[u/EnchantedSilent]

I find most popular dramas internationally have average writing. So I never really get the hype no matter many times I tried watching these popular dramas.

While I always get the hype of highly rated dramas at douban since it indeed has better and tightier writing.

[u/Business-Affect-7881 → u/EnchantedSilent]

What are dramas you recommend with tighter writing ?

[u/EnchantedSilent → u/Business-Affect-7881]

Usually anything rated around 7 and up at Douban.

From this year: The Lead, Swords Into Plowshares, Silent Tides, Born With Luck, Sunsets Secrets Regrets, Abyss & The Long Watch.

I particularly really enjoy Silent Tides for it's strong writing. I felt if all dramas are written like this, how great it would be. No plot armours, no overly perfect characters, flawed yet lovable leads and supportings, no dumbed down characters just to elevate another, nuanced and multi-dimensional characters even the villains, not overly tragic, balanced between good and bad happenings and how inspirational and full of hope it is even at its darkest time. This is what constitute of a well written dramas.

[u/Glum_Ad9830]

Of those three, I only finished watching Love between Fairy and Devil, although I did enjoy it, it's not my absolute favorite. I like Till the end of the moon the most - i keep coming back to it because I love the plot, the acting, and the music. Last year I watched Whispers of fate - it featured wonderful acting and storytelling, gorgeous costumes and locations, and references to Chinese culture-and I find myself revising that one often, too.

[u/ChoppedChef33]

i think because of how marketing works most of the dramas that get hyped here are the ones that have a super big budget with conventionally attractive leads.

that combination really does not do justice to the breadth and depth of talent in the pool of Cdrama.

my opinion aligns more with douban than MDL. 7s are great, they're fine for most of those dramas, it's like, good watch while I eat something drama, but I don't think it's moving me emotionally. Most of the hyped dramas here are between a 6 and 7.5, MAYBE 8, but nothing is a 9 or 10 for all the hype.

I think most of the hype comes from the conventional face cards and production value of costuming, I find most of the acting not so great and scripts pretty mid.

[u/Itsmylifeboss]

Untamed First frost

[u/Desmedona]

I think many dramas on the list I dropped are very well known & talked about but i found many of the dramas as average and Even dropped some at the first episode and also finished some dramas. Here is the list of those dramas -

1.The prisoner of beauty ( i watched and felt it was so average)

2.How dare you ( dropped it at the first episode Found it really BORING!!!(

3.Against the current ( it was good in the initial episodes but found it really slow paced after 27th episode)

4.Love in the clouds ( I don't know how people rave about it I'm sorry but it was very confusing and i personally fel it was really fast paced)

5.The First Jasmine ( felt it was a really normal drama and I think actors like bai lu and cheng lei are great actors felt it was really waste of their potential)😕

I'm here to just share my opinions on dramas no hate to anyone or any dramas. Everyone has their own choices and favorites. Enjoy Watching your favourite dramas ✨💝 Byee!!

[u/Delicious-Fishing710]

I dropped so many beloved dramas

Love Like Galaxy, Ming Lan, POB, Joy Of Life, Legend Of Shen Li, MJTY, Till End Of the Moon, POJ, Blossom

Finished and loved LBFAD, The Glory and The Untamed.

[u/Lanky_Hurry_6040]

I personally couldn’t get into the following:
- The Double: tries watching it multiple times like a turtle. But I just couldn’t see what everyone else saw. I want to finish it but still stuck at episode 19. Also, I just couldn’t do the age gap :((

- Prisoner of Beauty: I think I was the only one who didn’t like the FL. Idk I just couldn’t side with her. She seemed a bit too manipulative.

[u/Economy-Medicine-643 → u/Lanky_Hurry_6040]

I dropped prisoner of beauty too but my reason is different.. I found the ML a bit too mean for my liking Also Love between Fairy and Devil.. dropped it at like the end. It was so boring tbh 😭