Let’s Rate Some Asian Dramas

By Gena Sysavath
Web Content Contributor

 I do not have a life.

I spend a lot of my free time watching random Asian dramas and getting way too emotional over the character’s relationships. Since quarantine began, I think I’ve watched over 20 different dramas, and some of the ones I watch are not very common.

I figure I might as well share some of the ones I’ve watched the past year and rate them. This is my opinion; it does not have to reflect your opinion. I won’t be giving any real plots, just my thoughts.

That was my disclaimer; let’s get started:

Boys over Flowers (2009)

I just have to start with a classic. If you watch Korean dramas, you probably have seen this drama or at the very least heard of it. It’s quite literally an “OG.”

So, this drama was a re-watch for me, I actually saw it years ago when it was a lot newer. However, after re-watching it, a lot of what I liked before did not reach my expectations. It is older than most of what I watch now and the acting was not the greatest. This drama did bring its lead actor to the forefront of k-drama’s “rich guy.”

This drama was based on a Japanese manga, Hana Yori Dango written by Yoko Kamio, and a lot of the mindset is kind of dated. I just didn’t like the main leads, I thought they could have had better growth in both their relationship and themselves. Also, it’s a little morally flawed.

However, that’s just how the characters are supposed to be. There are many adaptations of the manga and by far, I still think this K-drama is one of the best representations of the story.

It is still an amazing watch and I full-heartedly will always suggest watching this drama as a starter. It paved the way for the dramas we have now to be seen almost worldwide.

I will never forgive the creators on the second couple’s ending though. What right did they have to deprive us like that? Also, the second male lead was so much better than the main male lead.

Rate: 3.5/5

Meteor Garden (2018)

Like BoF, this Chinese drama was also based on the same manga and I believe to an extent the k-drama itself. I might be wrong about that. However, although the plot-line is technically the same, this c-drama did it with even more dramatic and I did not think that was possible.

It is pretty different from its Korean counterpart, so you still get something else if you want to watch it. Personally, I did not like this one. Honestly, I only watched it because I heard that the technical second lead couple would get together and my very fragile heart needed that.

But… I did not like it. I know a lot of people do and many will prefer this one over the other versions, but I felt that this c-drama was just a little rush in their story and the characters were too dumb for me to handle.

For characters that are supposed to be “gifted” and “smart,” they all are really making some stupid decisions that only required common sense to fix it. Like I mention with BoF, I just do not like the main leads, and that’s just their character. It is sadly their personality.

There were also a lot of extra side characters and it was frustrating to try to remember all these irrelevant people that weren’t needed.

Anyway, I might just be biased, and I don’t hate the drama at all. I like it, but it is just not my favorite. I know several people who love this drama and prefer it over any other versions. To each their own.

Rate: 2.5/5

Accidentally in Love (2018)

I do not know why, but for some reason, this was one of my favorite watches this past year. I watched it twice just so I can feel everything all over again. It definitely has a lot of flaws and sometimes it’s super cringy. But overall, it was just super cute.

I found out about this drama because a YouTube video about the side couple was recommended to me.

Originally, I thought they were the main couple, but I was proven wrong when I started the first episode and although the leads didn’t appeal to me as much as the side couple did, their beginning was cute enough for me to continue.

I mean who does not like a dumb pop-star falling in love with an “average” girl that’s good everything?

I don’t have much to say about this one other than that I thought it was super cute.

Rate: 4/5

SOTUS: the series (2016)

Now, this one is a Thai BL (Boy’s Love) series, so it’s gay. Honestly, I didn’t know it was BL until I started watching it. Netflix recommended so I was like “why not?”

Let me tell you, I did not think I was going to like it because the opening kind of really annoyed me. I did not like one of the leads; I thought he was a crotch. Ironically, he ended up being my favorite character and if you watch this drama, you will know who I talk about.

The plot at best to me is iffy and it definitely could have been done a lot better. The thing that sold me to this drama was the characters. I think almost every one of the characters that had a story in this drama was written super well and I- I just love them. They just felt real.

Plus, if you really ship the main couple, they have two other series with them in it. They are still friends and you can see some recent pictures if you look them up on Instagram.

Rate: 4/5

The Boy Next Door (2018)

Oof. This one.

Love it.

Ten out of Ten.

This is not really a drama, it is more of a comedic skit. It is a very short web-series on YouTube and I can’t emphasize how much I love this series. It is so awkwardly funny and the situations the main leads get into are ridiculous.

I don’t know why it was recommended to me, but I’m so glad it was.

It is a bromance, it’s super cute. Lots of funny and cringy moments.

Rate: 5/5

Featured Image by Gena Sysavath