My Favourite Dramas From 2022

This story follows Su Ke Lan, a PR personnel who suddenly finds herself becoming a cooking teacher for her boss. A man who prioritizes work above all and finds cooking a waste of time, what happens when his family-oriented employee imparts cooking lessons that bring warmth and meaning to his mundane and solitary life? 

I really enjoyed this drama. There is human sentiment (人情味) in this drama which makes it feel realistic, heartwarming and easy to watch... you just enjoy wherever this plot takes you. I like a good cooking/food themed drama and this one has done a tremendous job of utilizing food dishes to tell lessons on family, love and life.

I thought the cast was amazing, giving very sincere and nuanced performances to their characters making it feel all the more believable. In particular, I really loved the characterization of Ke Lan and how Jade had portrayed her. I haven't seen many FLs written with her temperament without coming across as a push over or weak. Not all women need to be cold and arrogant to display strength. There are many types of women in this world and some are just as kind and mild-tempered as Ke Lan. Her strength comes from her values which gives her the confidence to be assertive when she needs to be. This was just a fairly good script with good directing and great cast performance!

This is the story of how a couple's devotion in serving the common people leads to their efforts to reform the political landscape through weeding out corrupt officials.

The story begins when an orphaned boy, Xu Qing Jia, shows up before Hu Jiao at the Hu family's Butcher Shop and declares himself to be her future husband. Fast forward a couple years and the boy has grown into a young man who has successfully become the "Bangyan' (2nd Honors) of the imperial examinations. To repay his gratitude to his benefactor and honor the marriage agreement both their parents arranged for them from childhood, Xu Qing Jia returns to marry his bride before taking up his new position as Assistant to the county Magistrate at a small border county. Unwilling to simply marry a man she does not love, Hu Jiao strikes a deal with him that benefits all parties involved; once the conditions are met, they would divorce and she would be granted her freedom again. However, things gradually change upon their arrival at Shangyong county. The man she once viewed as just a meek, submissive bookworm suddenly began to shine in her eyes as she watches him devote himself in serving the people, in-spite of oppressive forces from those in power. Without realizing it, Hu Jiao develops admiration for the weak scholar and she begins to understand why her father was so adamant on this marriage for her. Similarly, Xu Qing Jia discovers what makes Hu Jiao so uniquely special.

This was a wonderful drama with a great story, script, characters, and a beautiful couple with a love story that was developed nicely. Plus, they added just the right amount of humor to lighten the tone of the drama while overlaying all the scenes with a beautiful OST. The cast did a wonderful job with their characters and and the chemistry between them was just perfect! This is a highly recommended drama!!

I rate this drama an 8.3/10!

Communication is the key to forming relationships and bonds between people, and it is believed that poor communication is the the root cause of most disputes. "Speak Properly" is a television program that was designed with this in mind, as to help the public resolve their conflicts through a mediation process. Yang Guang, the TV host mediator, although good at his job, was never willing to invest emotionally into the cases he worked on. Having run from his own problems for much of his life, his ability to communicate vanishes when it comes to his own family problems. But when he is suddenly delivered a lawyer's letter by an attorney, Liao Wang, on behalf of his estranged mother to seize the house he and his family grew up in, he realizes he can avoid it no more. Just as his personal life gets thrown into chaos, a new TV host joins their station with a competing new program. How will Yang Guang manage his way out of his life conundrums?  

This was a great slice-of-life drama that focused on real life issues with an attempt to get to the roots of the problems. I really appreciated that aspect of this drama. I thought the cast did an excellent job of portraying the complicated emotions of their characters and were wonderful together.

Don't go into this expecting it to be a romance drama, because it's not. This is a slice-of-life drama so know what you are watching before you start. If you are into this genre, then I hope you'll enjoy this as much as I had!

Set in the city of Pingling, this story begins when 4 of the newest recruits of the police force join Bailihe Police Station, a station responsible for public security. As the cadets begin their new life as the people's Police Officers, they are each assigned a "Master" to shadow during their first year of mentorship, as per the station's customary tradition. Life on the police force doesn't go as smoothly as initially envisioned, as the work is not just physically, but emotionally draining, all of which is made worse when personal problems and rocky mentorship relationships begin to affect work performances. Yet, it is precisely because of the tutelage under their Masters that the 4 cadets begin to finally understand the true meaning of being a Police Officer of the people; the responsibility they carry only reaffirms their desire to be great, "ordinary" Police Officers.

This drama shines a spotlight on the importance of "ordinary" Police Officers to society. The trivial cases that often get overlooked because they are not headline grabbing, are precisely what makes their job so important. Without these Police Officers handling these mundane duties, it would be anarchy --no order, peace or safety for the public. Since no two countries are identical in governance, this production gives us a glimpse into the differences in culture, social classes and the way of life of the people in China, and how the differences in values influences how cases and disputes are handled.

Ordinary Greatness... a title only fitting for such an incredible production! I loved every second of this drama! The script, directing and cinematography was executed brilliantly, while the outstanding cast gave heartfelt, emotional performances that really pulls on heartstrings. They truly brought to life the story being told. Simply amazing and worthy of applause!

I rate this drama an 8.2/10!

A Dream of Splendor is a drama adapted from a 4 part play. This drama focuses on the stigma of women in society during historical times for those who are tainted by their lowly entertainer status. This is the story of how 3 women fight for their pride and standing to make a name for themselves in a society that doesn't respect or think highly of the fallen women.

This was a beautiful production with great directing, cinematography and acting! The only thing is I wish there were more creative ideas in the script. At times I felt their was too many lulls/stagnation in the plot just to drag it out. I think this drama could have been done in 34 episodes to be honest. Nonetheless, the idea of the story is great, as is the characterization of the females in the story!

A story about persistence and courage to fight for what's right, this drama begins on He Xing Fu's wedding day when she marries into the Wan Jia Village as the new daughter in-law of the Wang family. Little did she know she would embark on a journey of discovery when her principles and beliefs push her to stand up to protect her family in the fight for justice against Chief Wan and his son, something unimaginable for an insignificant family such as theirs. It wasn't until faced with fear for their own safety from unfair treatment that Xing Fu and her husband left to the city to seek temporary refuge. It is during this period of time she is introduced to a new world where she meets lifelong friends who inspire her to grow and gain new perspectives on life. Equipped with new goals, Xing Fu returns to the village reinvigorated and motivated, not just for herself and her family, but also the Wan Jia Village in achieving greater heights.

I really enjoyed this drama! I thought the characterization and script was great and executed very well. I may not like some of the characters entirely, but I find their construction believable. The pacing of the story was great, and the directing + cinematography was also well done. I thought the entire cast really helped bring the story to life and overall, did a fantastic job with their performances.  

I rate this drama an 8.6/10!

Born in a military family, Cheng Shao Shang was left behind by her parents at birth when they were called to assume their posts during the war. Being raised by her paternal Grandmother and Aunt, she was never given love and attentive care, let alone proper education that others were privy to. During the years her immediate family were away, her wit and intelligence helped her through the years of mistreatment until the day her family returned from their station. Shao Shang's family reunion wasn't what she hoped it would be when her General Mother decided to take it upon herself to make up for all the years of negligence in her upbringing. Shao Shang's much enjoyed freedom was suddenly at the mercy of her strict Mother and her tyrant teaching methods. The fantasy she imagined of the ideal Mother-Daughter relationship vanishing before her eyes; her stubborn rebellious nature only exasperating her Mother's need to educate her. Not one to yield to others and be controlled, Shao Shang would dream of escaping her predestined life of manipulation to live the life she desires. It is during this period that she meets three gentlemen, each of different standings and character who take a fancy to her. Just when she thought she had found her perfect match, fate deals her a cruel reminder that things don't always work out the way she hopes for when she is forced to sacrifice her love and betrothal for a greater cause. But perhaps, this was actually destiny at work as the man she is truly fated with, just happens to be the one she never considered to begin with.

This is the first part of "Love Like the Galaxy" which focuses on Cheng Shao Shang's story arc: her past, her family relationships and her suitors.

This is a quality production with great directing, cinematography, and the perfect amount of comedy to lighten the overall tone of the drama.

This is the second part to 'Love Like the Galaxy'.

The story continues with Cheng Shao Shang following her arranged betrothal to Ling Bu Yi by the Emperor. Although, initially resistant and hesitant to the marriage, Shao Shang eventually comes to terms with an engagement she cannot escape from; gradually she learns of everything Ling Bu Yi has done for her out of love. Deciding to make the best of her new reality she decides to accept his love and learn to reciprocate his feelings. 

Adjusting to life as the fiancee of Ling Bu Yi means adjusting to life and rules of the Palace as he is the beloved adopted son of the Emperor. This poses a real challenge for the reckless and rebellious girl who has always lived according to her own rules. As such, she becomes the easy target of those harboring jealousy and resentment toward her and her husband-to-be. He, a cold and ruthless General filled with vengeance, Ling Bu Yi has always been indifferent to all but the woman who stole his heart. And yet taxed with avenging General Huo and bringing justice to all the innocent souls of Gu city meant he had to utilize all means necessary. With his fiancee unknowingly putting a wrench into his plans, their divide in loyalty and her temperament creates conflict between a couple whom were fragile to begin with.

They say the Palace is the most dangerous place,.. for Shao Shang, perhaps the most dangerous place is actually by the side of a man she doesn't truly know, no matter how hard she tries...

As for Ling Bu Yi, how will he choose when his need for revenge is at the cost of his love?

It's said that a mysterious pawn shop exists that can grant wishes in exchange for relationships; only those with insatiable desires can find this pawn shop... 

The story begins when Lu Xiao Fan appears in the pawn shop following a fire that has his lover, Wu Yang's life hanging by a thread. To save her life, he agrees to pawn his relationship with her - The cavet is that he'll be erased from her life with her memory of him forever locked away in the shop. Three years have passed since he made that pawn and both have led separate lives since. Wu Yang has opened up a dessert shop and in spite of the struggling business and being burdened by her late father's debt, her headstrong and prideful character refuses to admit defeat. Her desires becoming like a distress call to the shopkeeper, she is unknowingly whisked away one evening to the pawn shop for the first time where she makes her first pawn to help her out of her financial troubles and upturn her business. Not an ordinary pawner, unbeknownst to her, her pawns come at a cost: for every pawn she makes her lifeline drains a little faster (like that of an hourglass timer), thereby undoing Xiao Fan's original wish. In an attempt to prevent her from pawning her life away, he returns to her side to help her achieve her goals and silently guard her. The closer they get, the more afraid he becomes: afraid she'll remember and yet afraid she won't.  As much as Xiao Fan wants to distance himself from Wu Yang and the Pawn shop, troubling situations keep arising that lead them back to pawn. Is it really just a coincidence and driven by their own selfish desires, or is it the Pawn shop who's after something only this couple possess?

I really enjoyed this drama, overall! I loved the emotional and realistic performances from the cast and I liked how the plot progressed despite the slow pacing. The directing was good and the cinematography was beautiful. I definitely recommend this!

Thirty thousand years following the war between the Moon tribe and the Immortal tribe, the Moon Supreme Lord -Dong Fang Qing Cang had been imprisoned in the Haotian Tower for his war crimes. During the reinforcement of the tower's seal, a lowly fairy of unknown origin -little Orchid gets sucked in while attempting to save the God of War -Chang Heng's life. It is during this chaos that little Orchid accidentally casts a heart curse onto Dong Fang Qing Cang - a curse only the descendants of the Xilan clan are capable of knowing - thereby connecting them both in heart and mind.  

Thus begins the love story between a fairy and a devil... two races that were always on enemy sides. Can these two finally put an end to the war between the two tribes, or will their connection be the catalyst to reignite the war?

This was a drama I almost passed on, so to say it surpassed my expectations is putting it mildly. The quality of this production was such a pleasant surprise - The directing, cinematography and CGI effects was excellent; the script was really good, overall (with some parts I wish they would have written differently). The casting was perfect, as was their wonderful performances... the costumes and sets were beautiful and it has a gorgeous OST! 

I'm truly glad I gave this one a try!!

I rate this 8.7/10!

Saikhim spent her entire life being the perfect, obedient girl to please her oppressive and controlling father. Just once she wanted to experience life in someone else's shoes so she swapped places with her best friend -Lita, for a week. But things don't go as envisioned and quickly spiral out of control when she meets Kaokla, a poor mechanic who runs an illegal automotive shop. 

After being hurt by the people they truly love, they suddenly find themselves together seeking comfort from one another. Little did Saikhim know that one drunken mistake was all it took to upturn her life. When she finds herself pregnant, fears of her father's actions has her reach out to Kaokla for help. Unexpectedly, the man who is no more than a stranger to her, ended up showing more goodness than was painted of him. Just as happiness and love finds this family of three, they are forcefully torn apart by her father trying to undo the "wrongful" path she has wandered onto. 

Seven years pass by in a flash and Saikhim's life track has finally righted on the path it was meant to take, but destiny is cruel and teases her by bringing her face to face with a man she thought she'd never see again. However, things are no longer the same and what's between them is nothing but hatred and vengeance now. Will the misunderstandings between the star-crossed lovers ever be cleared, or will Romeo and Juliet succumb to the same fate all over again?

This lakorn was such a pleasant surprise. The love story, the characters, the incredible acting and cinematography (particularly in the first 5 episodes) made it feel like an indie film at times. Mario and Yaya were outstanding and just had the most beautiful chemistry together! They made me smile, laugh and cry along with them... These two did an amazing job telling Saikhim and Kaokla's love story.

I rate this an 8.3/10!

If I were to use an analogy to describe this drama, I would say this drama is like building a puzzle: every episode is a piece of the puzzle; the progress may be slow moving but with every new episode, the picture starts to come into focus; by the end, you see the picture in its entirety.

This drama was so good and enthralling despite the slow pacing and little action. The cinematography, the editing and the way the scenes was pieced together was executed really well. The flashbacks and reveals of moles or undercover cops were timed perfectly. I love that we were misled to have suspicions of characters only to learn that it's opposite of what we were led to believe - it just made the reveals all the more unexpected and impactful. I enjoyed the cast performance, overall, particularly from our two MLs: Johnny and Tony. They really nailed their characters (I loved the final scenes between the two.).

I rate this drama an 8.3/10!

According to the traditions and laws of the state of Xin Chuan,  a marriage selection is held every two years as a part of the peace treaty agreement between the state and the rest of its territories. Each territory is to send a marriage prospect to be wed to one of the Princes of Xin Chuan. 

This is the story of how three women of different backgrounds and belief systems attempt to adapt to their new life in a state where old traditions are honored. Not resigned to living such a life, the women band together to usher upon fundamental change in Xin Chuan's views on women and their rights. During this process, the women re-discover their value and find love along the way.

This was a wonderful production! Casting, acting, directing, cinematography and script writing were all done exceptionally well. I love the different character types, their background stories, the sisterhood, the couple pairings and all their dynamics, but what I particularly enjoyed were the developments of the characters, the growth of the couples, and the plot development. It was all really well executed. Plus, this had the kind of comedy that I enjoy most in my dramas. Just an excellent production all together!

I rate this an 8.2/10!

While preparing for the debut of their new radio program, Qian Kai Yi and He Dun stumble upon a mysterious love story that leads He Dun on a discovery journey she never anticipated for. Who is An Na? Did she ever find her boyfriend and get a happily ever after? And how is her daughter - Xiao Ke Le - now?  

This is the proper conclusion to The Psychologist - This 'Drama Special' tied up most of the loose ends left while adding even more unexpected surprises and twists along the way. My only real criticism with this 'Drama Special' is the quick pacing and editing which made the plot feel rushed at times. But I enjoyed seeing the conclusion, nonetheless!

I rate this drama a 9.2/10!

This is the love story between a Pediatrician and the new President of Anxing Hospital which began from a fateful encounter that went awry. When the new President is mistaken for a shady businessman selling fake medicinal liquor to the elders in Taoyuan village, Lu Zhao Xi suddenly finds himself at the mercy of Ye Shi Lan, the righteous, but pessimistic Pediatrician of Anxing Hospital, who had been volunteering medical support to the village clinic. Only after learning of her predicament with Anxing Hospital's Chief Pediatrician does he realize the management problems he's tasked to resolve and he decides to utilize her in his plans. When Ye Shi Lan is finally transferred back to the hospital, she is shocked to find her new boss is the one she had been "tormenting" at the village clinic. Guilt ridden and ashamed for misjudging him, she instantly transforms into a sheep before him, much to the amusement of the crafty "wolf". And thus begins the sweet love story between a girl who didn't believe she was meant to have good things, and a man who turned out to be her savior.

What a beautiful love story! This has got to be the sweetest, fluffiest cotton candy romance I've ever watched and I enjoyed every second of it.  All the credit goes to the entire production for bringing a quality drama that managed to deliver through a good script that had characters and couples that were written beautifully, and a plot that developed naturally to match the simplicity of the storyline, The directing, editing, cinematography and OST were amazing, and the casting was the cherry on top. I really loved the chemistry of the entire cast, but especially the incredibly natural chemistry between Joseph and Liang Jie. Their chemistry just overflows. <3

I rate this an 8.4/10!

This story follows a female Pilot - Cheng Xiao - as she works to achieve her dream of becoming a Captain in the aviation industry, one that is dominated by men. Despite the setbacks and lack of support from her mother, her determination, resilience and passion keep her aspirations alive.

Love! Absolutely loved this drama! The script, directing and action scenes were so well done. This really exceeded my expectations by miles. I wasn't sure I'd like it when I first watched the trailer but it actually blew me away. I really think they nailed the casting of the 4 male leads. Their portrayals were excellent! I will miss this drama.