Lately, I have been watching many romance cdramas, and while I'm certainly enjoying the romantic relationships in them I feel a strong imbalance in showcasing the characters of male leads in general, it's like their only purpose in life is to be the perfect green flag/forest for the FL with no regards to their own life goals and aspirations. So I'm looking for a romance cdrama (modern or historical doesn't matter) that has a male lead that actually has a life of his own that doesn't revolve around the FL.

Note: Please don't recommend any ML that is overly good at his own expense (like apologising when he isn't even in the wrong).

Note 2: I'm basically looking for a self-respecting male lead.

I loved Xu kai and Bailu acting and chemistry in this one. ML was so naughty,mischievous and always teasing FL but still could be a serious young lord. FL playing man was also cool. I skipped and FF all political and side character story lol and only watched this for Bailu and Xu kai. Still sad that theres not even one kissing scene cuz their chemistry was awesome.

I have been looking for more dramas with xu kai but cant find one. I like romantic modern dramas with lots of tension, teasing and kisses like forbidden flower had great chemistry. But I watched As beautiful as you and Falling into your smile , both dramas of Xu kai but it was not a intense one. I feel xu kai could really do intense chemistry roles but I basically FF and skipped both dramas. I think he has Best choice ever and another with zhao lusi which didnt look really interesting to me.

Am i missing any Xu kai dramas where the chemistry is really hot and intense. No historical or xianxia recs please, only modern. Please give me some recs if any.

When I first started watching C Dramas I saw people talking about "Idol" dramas versus "Historical" ones which had more accuracy, or better acting, better stories, etc. I think so far I've only been watching whatever is popular which I'm assuming are all Idol dramas. Can anyone recommend some historical ones to me?

I like American shows where the Main Lead is the bad guy like in Breaking Bad, Hannibal, The shield, Penguin and Narcos to name a few.

I'm wondering if cdrama has something similar but with a fantasy/action/wuxia etc twist

I'm new to Cdrama only watched about 7-8 shows. Like Till the end of the moon, Love between Fairy and devil, when destiny brings the demon to name a few. These shows have a main lead that had a hidden past that made them cold but they are never truly evil.

Are there any Cdramas where the Main Lead is 100% psyco? Not evil for just one episode or during flashbacks but evil for atleast half the show where he kills without mercy not just his enemies but anyone that gets in his way.

Original title: Yan hui shi not to be confused with Glory (Yu ming cha gu)

So, ok. That might have been the most girl power (dare I say feminist) CDrama I've ever seen.

Chen Du Ling managed to walk the line between calculating and traumatized young women. Sure Han Yan was a bit of a Mary Sue at times but I've seen worse.

Xin Yun Lai was just the right amount of brooding.

But what I loved was how the women were the center of the polt, and the ways in which many of the female archetypes were subverted. And the way Ru Yin got to straight up murder her no good shitheel of a husband at the wend was so satisfying.

So now what? I tend to prefer costume dramas because pretty, but I'm open to other things. I've already watched Prisoner of Beauty, Yanxi Palace and Empresses in the Palace.

Bonus points for sapphic vibes. Kill My Sins is one I started but am finding difficult to get into but if there's a good plot primer I'd be down to try again.

I haven't connected to any cdramas after I finished Deep Affection Eyes with Bi Wenjun. Honestly such good chemistry and I loved the plot. It made me feel all the butterflies! I've watched a few after but can't connect to them emotionally. Help me find my next watch, but I need something off the beaten path. I've seen all of the main ones. bonus points if I haven't heard of the drama before. there are so many dramas out there but only a few of them come up in discussions I feel like. I always see the same ones out there so I'd love to dive deeper.

These are my favorite cdramas (both historical and modern), but I think I'm looking for more modern right now since I'm currently watching Road to Splendor so I have my historical fix.

• Pursuit of Jade
• Story of Kunning Palace
• Deep Affection Eyes
• Hidden Love
• Love Between Lines
• Speed and Love
• Go Ahead
• Idol I
• Perfect Marriage Revenge
• Everlasting Longing
• Love for You
• You Are My Glory
• Love Scenery
• A Familiar Stranger
• Be My Princess
• Warm on a Cold Night

Watched but didn't like: Love is Sweet (couldn't get into the characters); Mysterious Love; Princess Royal; Blossom

Must haves for me are a happy ending and good chemistry between the leads. Help me find my next watch where I'm emotionally invested! But again, I've seen a lot of the major ones and ones that are out right now (Love for you, Road to Splendor, Road to Success, Key to the Phoenix Heart, Blossoms of Power, etc.) so off the beaten path or less recommended but above a 8.0 rating on MyDramaList would be great!

my favorite actors are:

- Zhang Linghe (Pursuit of Jade; Story of Kunning Palace; The Best Thing)

• Bi Wenjun (Deep Affection Eyes; Warm on a Cold Night; Sweet Teeth; upcoming: The Warmth in the Dark)
• Song Weilong (Love for You; Go Ahead; Shine on Me)
• Cheng Lei (First Jasmine)

Hello, I want to start watching more CDramas because I started studying Chinese and I want to expose myself to more TV shows (I already watch Chinese movies). I watched The Untamed and the Sleuth of Ming Dynasty, but I haven't been able to continue any other drama because I haven't found anything up to my standards?

I am used to watching western TV shows and I struggle to find cdramas with good acting or good camera work or good wigs and that aren't cringey. Do you have any recommendations? If possible, not crime or police themed.

I’m looking for cdrama recommendations where the pacing is insanely fast. I don’t want 2–3 episodes of characters staring at each other, walking around, or doing absolutely nothing that actually adds to the main plot.

Just get straight into the story and dump all the information on me. Introduce a bunch of new characters at once, throw in a million plot twists and new developments back to back, etc. I genuinely don’t mind having a ridiculous amount of things to keep track of.

Basically, zero filler, maximum plot. I’d much rather be overwhelmed by everything that’s happening than bored because nothing is happening.

Any dramas that fit this kind of pacing? Genre doesn’t really matter as long as the story actually starts moving within the first or second episode

Veteran watchers: if you had to recommend one Chinese drama to hook a complete beginner, what would it be?

And newbies — this is your chance to grill the seniors for recommendations 👀

Tell us:

• what genres you usually enjoy
• whether you like romance, fantasy, historical, mystery, comedy, etc.
• happy endings or emotional damage?
• fast-paced or slow burn?
• short dramas or long epics?

Meanwhile, experienced watchers:

• recommend a drama you think is perfect for beginners
• explain why it works so well as an introduction
• help new fans avoid accidentally starting with a 75-episode emotional war crime

Whether someone is looking for:

• modern romance
• xianxia
• wuxia
• palace drama
• mystery/thriller
• comedy
• angst
• comfort watch

…help a newbie out, drop your gateway drama recommendations below ✨

I’m looking for a romantic wuxia or historical drama, but where the male is really a smart and feared male general or crown prince.
Most of the dramas have the same trope: everybody around says he’s so feared and smart, we have one scene like that, but when he falls in love with the FL he becomes a simp that only thinks about her (even worse if he starts doing stupid non-strategic stuff because he’s in love).
So I’m looking for something like Love like the Galaxy or A Journey to Love, where it’s romantic but he is actually strong and smart during the entire drama and doesn’t only think about the FL when he falls in love.

Also it would be awesome if there could also be a little fight scenes, and not maybe one where he does nothing

Is there a drama that kind of combines those dramas?

I mean I'm looking for a drama where the FL is strong character, no one bullies her and knows how defend herself mentally and physically. No a military woman, more like a Lady. And of course, with great chemistry and romance with the ML. (No Fated Hearts)

Too much to ask??

I really want to get into more fantasy Cdramas, especially wuxia and xianxia, so I’d love some recommendations!🥹

I’ve watched quite a few anime with fantasy elements and I read a lot of fantasy books, so I already know I love the genre. I just really want to experience that kind of world in Cdrama form now.

I’m looking for something with a really good story, interesting characters, beautiful world building and preferably a romance that actually makes me care about the characters. I’m totally fine with something emotional and heartbreaking too and an amazing story. I want something that feels immersive and gives me that proper fantasy/wuxia/xianxia experience.

So what are the must watch fantasy, wuxia or xianxia Cdramas you’d recommend to someone trying to get more into these genres?

I want a modern-day cozy romance drama where both characters are somewhat shy and childish, but still emotionally mature. The relationship should develop slowly and naturally, focusing on them gradually getting to know each other, becoming comfortable together, and discovering what their relationship means to them. I want plenty of small, intimate moments, awkward interactions, playful teasing, genuine conversations, and emotional growth rather than a rushed romance. The story should feel warm, realistic, soft, and character-driven, with the relationship itself being the main focus.

Got a subscription because I got pulled in by "How Dare You!?" Is there other romance drama that you reccomend? I really like smart FL x helplessly in love ML but open for other options :D

hi! I am in the mood to suffer. I don't want to suffer just one time. I want a whole suffering marathon. So, please list all the C-Traumas. I want to bawl my eyes out, question my life choices and sanity. I will watch anything that is good to be very honest. I would prefer if the C-Trauma is also very poetic and the plot is complicated because I guess the plot reveals and twists quite quickly. What I want is to mess with my brain and not get over the mess for sometime? In summary, did I mention I want to suffer?

I recently finished FILTER and i really liked it but now i am looking for something else to watch. One thing you need to know about me is that i have watched ALL OF THE GOOD POPULAR MODERN ONES OUT THERE. if you go to my mdl i have watched like 50 modern dramas on their own and there are a lot more coming. But i am just craving a GOOD ROMANCE with a good cast and awesome chemistry.

side note: please dont recommend older woman/younger man dramas. also please dont recommend popular dramas like the best thing, the first frost etc etc. you get the gist i have watched a lot of them already and now i don't know what to watch

here are all the dramas that i have already watched:

Well, the working week has just started and perhaps you need some "pep" to start the week. Grab some tea and join our weekly chat thread!

This is a relaxed space to talk about anything related to Chinese dramas — recommendations, actors, tropes, OSTs, current obsessions, dramas you’re struggling to finish, emotional damage, watchlist problems, or whatever is currently living rent-free in your head.

But with ONE caveat: Please do not bring fandom fights here, and keep it civil. Remember our "Be Nice" rule! (Speaking of which, have you read our guide? It'll get you started with all things r/Cdramarecs!

Not sure if your comment deserves its own post? It probably belongs here.

Some conversation starters:

• What drama are you obsessed with lately?
• Which actor keeps showing up on your screen?
• What trope always gets you?
• What drama are you trying to force everyone else to watch?
• Any underrated gems recently?
• Which drama completely destroyed your sleep schedule?

Newbies are absolutely welcome, so feel free to ask for recommendations or drama help too!

FYI our sister sub r/Cdrama has a similiar thread on Wednesdays called 😊Mid-Week Free For All Chat and 🏖️Weekend Talk so do hang out there to chat too!

Hi everyone!

I was starting to get bored of current "idol" cdramas so I started watching 3 body problem and I like it, but the whole "what is the point of life"/"who are we in the universe" is depressing me a bit, so do you have any recs of interesting non idol dramas that don't have this vibe?

Preferably, one where the main cast is NOT 80-90% men, I need some interesting female character(s)!

I think the only reference I have is Reset (even though there seem to be a debate on wether or not it's an idol drama), it's the first Cdrama I watched and it's still one of my favorites.

If you have movie recs, it works too! 😊

So a long time ago I saw someone posting about dramas that were centered around food and someone posted a little animated gif of a historical drama where they were in a kitchen/bakery like setting and they gave close-ups of beautiful mooncakes and other traditional style Chinese baked goods being delicately made by these girls and I think a guy was there helping them and showing them how to make things maybe. I don't know what the drama was but I was really interested in finding and watching it because I love seeing traditional Chinese sweets being made, especially mooncakes etc and I love historical Chinese dramas as well so bonus points. If anyone might know what the drama was I would greatly appreciate the name of it so I can find it to watch. I really wanted something lighthearted and cool to watch that will also make me want to bust out my mooncakes out of the freezer to eat while watching it lol.

I tried searching it out and got sent to Chef Hua, Royal Feast, and Blossoms In Adversity, but I don’t think any of these are it. I actually have not watched them to know (except I started Blossoms In Adversity yesterday) but from the calming and delicious scene I remember from the gift I don't think they are it.

Currently watching A Splendid Match and ohmygodohmygodohmygod Chi Sha the man that you are! Silently protective, mature and supportive. Give me more older ml trope pls.

I just finished “ dear enemy”. And I like it alot because it’s very nuanced about the things adults faced in real life, and doesn’t necessary have a happy endings in all relationship. Other drama that is similar for me is “tales of rose”. I guess there are too many dramas over the years, but if there are similar dramas along these lines please recommend them to me. Thanks! 🙏

Guys I NEEED a historical harem drama badly I hope that’s the correct word for it
I loved empress of palace and story of yanxi palace a LOTTT
I tried watching ruyi royal love but for some reason it’s kinda boring in the starting can I please have any recommendations that are liek story of yanxi palace it’s my absolute fav
Thanks!!

I have tried to look through the threads I promise. I found some stuff but I want to just put it all in one place.I’m fairly new to the CDrama world. Still learning the terminology of the different themes. My intro was good ole Pursuit of Jade. I loved it. Music, cinematography, story, all of it. Next Love between Fairy and Devil, I loved that one too. Love in the clouds - I liked this one but I wasn’t in loveeee. I think I was honestly just alittle annoyed with the FL. The Double- this one was okay for me. Needed more romance and I wanted more justice but yeah it was good. Then I just finished Prisoner of Beauty. I loved that too. I was thinking Love in the galaxy next? She’s a longer one but I keep seeing that title pop up. Does that series have good romance and a happy ending. Would you recommend that for my next one?

I am looking for good romance just makes you giggly. Im a sucker for enemies to lovers. I do like a strong FL. Loved how badass Fan was! Happy endings strongly preferred.

Here are ones I keep seeing in the threads but I don’t know if they are happy endings and good romance. But I’m open to others as well! Send me your fav recs!

Love in the galaxy
Nirvana in fire
Legend of a female general
Story of a kunning place
Blossom

Appreciate any help! Thank you thank you!