10 Asian Dramas I Finished Watching in 2024

 

Unlike in 2023 that I was able to complete several costume series, this year almost none of the costume drama from mainland China caught my interest so I only finished two: In Blossom and Fateful Love - not the best costume series this year but for some reason, I managed to finish it 😂 Most of the series I finished watching this year are suspense/thriller, which is my second favorite genre after costume.

Here are the series I finished watching so far in 2024, and the reasons why I was able to complete the whole drama. I ranked them based on the quality of the script and how I liked them. 

1. Shogun (FX/Hulu). Number of episodes: 10 / Main Leads: Hiroyuki Sanada, Anna Sawai, Cosmo Jarvis

Although the story is about the feudal period in Japan, Shogun was produced by Americans and streamed on a US-based streaming platform, nonetheless most of the cast members are Japanese. 

Shogun was impressive, from the quality of the script, production, and performances to the cinematography and film editing, everything was fantastic about this drama. 

There's just one thing I was looking for, which most Asian historical fanatics would agree - the war scene and samurai action. Hopefully, season 2 will tackle the samurai fighting scenes. Nonetheless, Shogun was fantastic, it was my best drama watch for 2024.

2. Deep Lurk (iQIYI/CCTV). Number of episodes: 38 / Main Leads: Cheng Yi and Ying Er

A Republican spy drama that was filmed five years ago but is surprisingly amazing! Wondering why they stalled this for years. 

I enjoyed watching this series. The story is fast-paced and the screenplay is well-written. It will compel you to think harder and analyze the whole situation. This is so far the best espionage series I have watched in recent years.

Cheng Yi and the rest of the cast delivered stellar acting performances. It's Cheng Yi's first Republican era drama so it's refreshing to watch him in a different genre other than costume. He did not disappoint because he performed well as Yun Hongshen. This is my best C-drama watch this year. 

3. To The Wonder (iQIYI). Number of episodes: 8 / Main Leads: Yu Shi and Zhou Yiran

I love this drama! It inspired me to travel to Northern Xinjiang and to the Altay grassland after watching it haha! It's a healing drama, I realized so many things while watching. That life is not all about dreaming big, it's all about where we feel comfortable and happy. Indeed, we can find happiness in simple things.

It's also refreshing to marvel at the spectacular beauty of nature, the Altay grassland, the majestic mountain, and the beautiful prairie. I wish I could be there someday. 

I love the story and all the events unfolded in this drama. It also offers cultural discovery. I learned to appreciate the Kazakhs culture and rich tradition. 

Before watching this drama I did not know there was a Kazakh minority in China, I thought Northern Xinjiang was only all about Uyghurs. It's also good to know about Kazakh culture and it's sad at the same time that their nomadic life is rapidly disappearing due to modernization. 

4. Always on the Move (iQIYI/CCTV). Number of episodes: 39 / Main Leads: Bai Jingting and Ding Yongdai

I love the humor of this drama and the dynamic of the two main leads: Bai Jingting and Ding Yongdai. The constant bickering of their characters is what made this drama truly engaging and entertaining. Although this is a period drama, set in the 1970s when China was introducing reform, the story is impressive. 

I also love the local culture tackled in the drama and the way old families lived during that period. There's warmth in the community and the neighborhood is supportive, something that we miss nowadays. I love the simplicity of the scenes. I love the humor. Bai Jingting is such a natural comedian. Hope to see him more in comedic roles. 

5. Blossom (Tencent). Number of episodes: 34 / Main leads: Meng Ziyi and Li Yunrui

This is my best costume Chinese drama in 2024! Everything is so good about this drama, from the screenplay, plot development, and acting performances of the main leads. Did not like Meng Ziyi in her past dramas but in Blossom, I was so impressed with her acting. 

Li Yunrui is my new favorite male lead in the costume drama genre. He is so amazing as Song Mo. He is such a charismatic actor with an irresistible appeal. He delivered so well and he jelled perfectly with Meng Ziyi. I love their chemistry and the way their characters are written. The story is consistent from start to finish. 

6. Red Swan (Disney+). Number of episodes: 10 / Main Leads: Kim Ha-neul and Rain

This is the only Korean drama I finished watching this year. I was so captivated by its screenplay and the elements of suspense and thrill. Rain is so fabulous in his role as Seo Do-yoon. The story is also fast-paced and there's always exciting to look forward to in every episode. 

This is a well-written suspense story and all cast members performed very well too. I have a great time chasing the episodes. It's been a long time since watching Rain in a drama so this is a good treat for his fans. 

7. In Blossom (Youku). Number of episodes: 32 / Main Leads: Ju Jingyi and Liu Xueyi

This is the first costume drama I finished watching this year! The element of mystery, where there's a switch of identity/body swapping sort of thing, attracted me to complete this drama. Never imagined I could finish another Ju Jingyi drama after Beauty of Resilience in 2023 but I did lol. Maybe because of Liu Xueyi, which I have liked since Love and Redemption, and the story itself. 

In Blossom is a story about the county's magistrate, Pan Yue, and the two women in his life, Yang Caiwei, the amiable woman who Pan Yue is in love with, and Shangguan Zhi, the wicked and jealous woman despised by Pan Yue. Shangguan Zhi brought her life to the extreme when she devised a plan to "snatch" the identity of Yang Caiwei. 

8. Interlaced Scenes (iQIYI). Number of episodes: 15 / Main Leads: Tong Da Wei and Ma Yili

This is another suspense drama where a mysterious identity is the core in the story. I just love this kind of theme - suspense, thriller, and mysterious identity, it makes the whole thing very exciting, allowing my brain to work hard and digest everything. Suspenseful drama is super exciting to watch!

Interlaced Scenes is about a murder case investigated by two police personnel, however, much to their surprise, the clues of the murder lead them to the crime scene in the novel written by a famous book author, Gu Yuming. It's exciting although not as stellar as most suspense series, but it's a good watch.

9. Fateful Love (Tencent/WeTV). Number of episodes: 40 / Main Leads: Zhu Xudan and Zhang Han

It's been a long time since watching Zhang Han in a costume drama so I was intrigued with this drama and started checking. But then I got hooked because the story began in the modern world and the female lead character, Han Zijing (played by Bambi Xudan), after encountering an incident in the forest, suddenly woke up in the ancient time. 

It feels like a time-slip drama where a modern-world girl, inexplicably travels back in time. There's one element that attracted me to chase the drama, a small dagger that triggered the time travel phase. So it was a bit exciting. Although not as fabulous as most costume series I watched in the past years.

10. Regeneration (Youku). Number of episodes: 10. Main Leads: Jing Boran and Zhou Yiran

This is a suspense mystery drama and the first six episodes are so captivating. It's a mysterious identity of the main character that made me chase the episodes.

However, Regeneration has a weak ending, the finale didn't make sense! 

Currently, I'm trying to finish this Taiwanese drama, Imperfect Us, it's a critically acclaimed series and has been receiving recognition and awards from award-giving bodies, both in Taiwan and outside the country. So it must be good. It's a bit slow and boring at some point but the story is good so I'm determined to finish it this month.

The drama I started this year but didn't finish:

1. The Legend of Shen Li 

2. Queen of Tears (K-Drama)

3. Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red Moon Pact 

4. The Double

5. Dashing Youth

6. Snowy Night 

7. Fangs of Fortune 

8. Love Game in Eastern Fantasy 

9. The Story of Pearl Girl 

10. Lovely Runner (K-Drama)

11. Fortune Writer 

12. Fate's Crossing Nan and Ke