After watching my first drama, Hana Yori Dango, in 2007, I've been hooked onto Asian TV shows since then. Over the years, my show preferences have changed after maturing through various life events and growing in appreciation for thicker plotlines with deeper messages and meaning.

Current Preferences

I am on the search for shows that:

• Contain deep character development with clear motives and objectives
• Envoke empathy by addressing life's real questions and/or issues
• Offer some form of hope, but still, leave room for unpredictable yet logical twists and turns
• Have minimal to no plot holes whilst addressing all the above
• (If Possible) Loosely based on true events. e.g. historical timeline is accurate.

I avoid or dislike shows that:

• Contain a helpless or annoying lead character
• Focus too much on pleasing the audience. E.g. With fan service such as unnecessary 'lovey-dovey' scenes

Inbox me a recommendation! :) 

Current Rating System

I'm a harsh critic. By being around Asian TV since the mid-late 2000s, I'm able to compare the quality of the show across different time periods. The scores I've given on MDL have been scored by present me rather than past me. E.g. What I would have given a 10 back then wouldn't be what I'd give a 10 now. 

Now, it is rare for me to give a score above 9. The show has to cater to my preferences listed above as well as constantly have me on the edge of my seat without a dull moment.

• 10: Excellent. Plot story, characters & character development, acting, music, invoked empathy and/or hope - perfectly sequenced and executed.
• 8 - 9: Great. It had all the above but there were one or two things that were very lacking just slightly. An 8 or 9 is given depending on the element and how much it affected my overall enjoyment of the series.
• 7: Okay. Fun/interesting to watch, but some of the above elements were lacking which nearly made it, but didn't, unpleasant to watch or finish.
• 6: Okay. Some parts were just painful to watch. The plot was limiting, characters, and/or character development could be improved, and/or the show wasn't able to envoke empathy, etc.
• 5: Poor. The whole thing was painful. Poor execution of the plot or no plot at all, and/or characters and character development was severely lacking, confusing, or annoying, and/or very limited to no empathy invoked, etc.
• 4: Waste of time. "Why did I even watch this?" vibes. Lowest I'll give to respect to the crew and others who also enjoyed the show. 

Anything with .5 means I enjoyed it to some degree and hence the .5 extra out of appreciation.