C-Dramas with Good Script + Chemistry

★★★★★★★★★★★★★

great drama through and through from start to end! the romance was very light and slow burn, and the time loop story never got old, even though you'd think it would. only downside was the main antagonists (but very minor nitpick, lol)

★★★★★★★★

I absolutely loved this! a super relaxing, vacation-like travel-doc-esque slice of life and romance drama. it was finally a drama that was able to do the city girl moves to small town and falls in love trope, but better than Hometown ChaCha and Crash Landing on You. I enjoyed it very much, and the couple chemistry was better than I thought it would be.

have been a fan of Li Xian since go go squid, and this was the return drama that i needed. I think his acting has improved, and he seems to be good at picking scripts so hopefully his next projects improve too. also loved Liu Yi fei's performance—she was really elegant and mature as xu hongdou, but still showed vulnerability. What pulls this drama together are the supprting roles which are very well done too, especially Mr. Ma, QingTian (the writer), Nana, Aunt Gu (she's too good at playing an annoying neighbourhood auntie), and the other roles. Wasn't a fan of the young ML x older woman side couple here tho.

★★★

a classic, well awaited drama. the two main leads are rlly popular in china, and the story was sort of new as well, with the astrophysics part of it. certainly got to see some stuff that would count as "perks of having a genius astrophysicist as your bf" moments, lol. ML's acting was just OK, but when he looks that handsome he gets away with it i guess. his acting has slightly improved since I last watched him, and it didn't detract from anything. On a rewatch it falls apart a bit as there's many filler scenes. I enjoyed the conflict with the ML's best friend. The FL is kind of perfect...I wish she had more dimension and I feel as though the ML definitely got more development. But Dilraba was also good in this role and sold it as a larger than life star.

overall, what an aesthetic couple, good watch for eye candy and its a solid watch if you're interested in the story.

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i thought this would be bad, but minus the ending (that gave me mxied feelings, wasn't a bad or sad ending, just made me conflicted) I still think this drama was better than expected. the ML from this has definitely been placed on my radar since his performance (not AMAZING, but still GOOD! I think he sells the pining the couple goes through. and Julia Xiang also did well as she always does. I loved her performance in Forever Love and hope she continues to pick god projects. Enjoyed this story more than i thought i would—but again, still not as good to the quality of Reset or Meet Yourself.

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the main couple here is so healthy, the chemistry is great, and the story isn't like 40+ episodes long, which I can appreciate. Both lead actor's have great acting and this was one of their breakout performances (Wang An Yu and Julia Xiang)

another fluffy/light hearted, low-emotional investment e-sports rom com. This is actually gaming and not CTF like go go squid. this one features more social media and i think it came out during/along the back end of the pandemic as well; so it was god send and we'll ignore any major flaws w it as desperate times called for desperate measures <3 (as with go go squid).

★★★

another funny rom com with zhang xincheng. I didn't enjoy this one as much, but it has some funny scenes! it's not that i didn't enjoy it because its less funny/entertaining (it's abt equal t skate into love) but just that this is more about the adult world and the entertainment industry, while skate into love was on a college campus

★★★

So far (as of ep 18) I really expected Wu Lei's acting to be better. Its a little stiff, and I get that General Ling is supposed to be a stony, stoic, imposing character, but his facial expressions make me to aware of the fact that he's acting, which I shouldn't notice. Imo, his acting was a little better in The Long Ballad (also maybe because the aesthtic of a wilder/northerner/tribal vibe fits him more)

Zhao Lu Si is doing a wonderful job, and she adds dimension to SS's character. The older members of the cast also deliver pretty well, esp that grandma, the mother, and the father. 

I like the wealth of characters, the world really feels immersive. the romance is a little slow right now, and I don't really like how it keeps hitting us over the head with General Ling as the obvious choice, but the ML's character in and of itself has few faults and is very respectable. 

i absolutely love e-sports rom-com dramas, and i like Li Xian and most of his roles as well.

★★★

Damn is it long but i will stay up till 4am just to watch the episodes raw lmao. i am picking up bare-bones sentences but it's all worth it.

The cast is superb, the chemistry is good (despite the 7year age gap between dilraba and leo, they do a good job so far, damn) and the story is even more captivating.

I think more than the leads, I am sticking around for the story because I am genuinely curious as to where the plot will go. I want to also see how the relationship the leads have will be impacted by this. It's so much tension, along with the war, and all of the characters complex motivations.

I generally don't like wuxia dramas, 40+ episode ones even worse, but this just seems to be breaking all those rules pop off i guess o.O

◉◉◉◉ I EXPECTED IT TO BE BAD

Like judging from ep 1, theres some kinda dubbing issues/audio issues, the meet-cute is cringe af, and the male lead is ur stereotypical robot character, BUT, that first ep didnt do it justice AT ALL. BURN IT. that first ep is criminal.

im glad i watched on regardless out of pure boredom because this ML is so sweet, they have an ACTUAL healthy relationship with communication ( esp towards the end they both grow so much) and even though it's the typical marriage contract, it's a sweet drama! :D

★★★★★

You need to turn off your brain to watch this, and just enjoy the pretty people on screen. I don't recommend reading/watching unless you've been through other dogblood, toxic, Wattpad-esque mafia stories and know what a healthy relationship should look like,. You have to build tolerance. If you have, then proceed, because this show was genuinely entertaining and unexpected.

I expected this to be cliched, boring, and just have good-looking leads but no substance, but I was mistaken. Though the ending left me wanting for a lot more (at least an epilogue ???) it's still an OK drama, with amazing  chemistry is great—def in the top 5 the best I've seen ever in a Chinese drama. The ML is....complicated, manipulative, and i dont like how the story is written to frame everything the FL does around him, and that she must always be accomodating to him....this is a whole separate story, but its so poorly written and romanticizes selfish MLs, who rlly why r u working this hard for a man who never even returns half the effort or love, and is he a gemini?? (joking lmao) 

 if you turn off ur brain and just watch for the chemistry and sexual tension then...its good enough. But story wise, this is painful.

★★★

in my memory this is an enjoyable drama! its so fun, the chemistry between zhang xin cheng and janice wu is great, theyre so funny together. at least from what i remember! plus its a sports drama too :>

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I first thought this was just a Descendants of the sun rip off, and damn was I wrong. Also misguided, lol. this story is separate from that, and focuses on different things completely. Honestly just watch it, and you'll understand. to compare them is just really dumb lol

The chemistry here is also good, and for adults, it is a very innocent approach to a relationship. as time went on I got a little bored, but the episodes I have seen were enjoyable. Perfect for an in-between show if you are waiting on a different show to come out, or update. I enjoyed it very much! :D

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I'm giving it a shot rn, and so far I like it. I like that the FL is growing aware of the ML much faster than it usually happens in these kind of dramas, lol.

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haven't finished this yet idt XDthe drama and overarching plot certianly is a little drawn out, but thats how wuxia just are :/

the romance is very good, and so is the chemistry mostly :> i cant believe this was zhang ling he's first drama wuz ;-; like, ok sir born a natural? go off i guess o.O <333

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nice filler drama with really attractive leads. honestly ider what half the conflict or plot was, I just know that it was a good interim drama while i waited for others to come out

my intro to che zhe yuan. it took a while to get used to him, but once you watch the way he acts really has charisma and charm! a great actor