Dear Diary | Discussion

A diary comes to life and a Prince Charming is born to save his ugly duckling. 

Notable Actors/Actresses

Bu Guan Jin: Chen Mei Ru

Rhydian Vaughan: Murong Jie Lun

Wang Rui Chang: Ouyang Wen Shan

Zhu Yan Man Zi: Jiang Hui Zhen

Tiffany Hsu: Jiu Tian Long Nu

Zhou You: Duan Shui Liu

Director: 

Zhou Nan

Producer: 

Wu Qian

Chinese Title
我的巴比倫戀人

My Babylonian Lover

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Sismance, Comedy, Contemporary Romance

Year: 2021
Episodes: 24 + Extra Ep

[Recaps]

Dear Diary | Recap and Review

A diary comes to life and a Prince Charming is born to save his ugly duckling. 

Notable Actors/Actresses

Bu Guan Jin: Chen Mei Ru

Rhydian Vaughan: Murong Jie Lun

Wang Rui Chang: Ouyang Wen Shan

Zhu Yan Man Zi: Jiang Hui Zhen

Tiffany Hsu: Jiu Tian Long Nu

Zhou You: Duan Shui Liu

Director: 

Zhou Nan

Scriptwriter: 

Jian Yi Wen

Chinese Title
我的巴比倫戀人

My Babylonian Lover

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Sismance, Comedy, Fantasy, Contemporary Romance

Network: iQIYI, Youku

Year: 2021
Episodes: 24 + Extra Ep

Recap Grade: A
First Impression: 4/5

[Discussion]

Remembrance of Things Past | Recap and Review

A slice of life drama about four girls living away from home. 
Notable Actors/Actresses

Zhou Yu Tong: Qiao Xi Chen

Ren Su Xi: Ji Nan Jia

Sun Qian: Xu Yan

Jin Jing: Hu Jing Jing

Bai Yu Fan: Jian Yi Fan

Ma Si Chao: Ou Yang

Director: 

Li Mo

Scriptwriter: 

Guo Shuang, Sun Qi Jun

Chinese Title
我在他乡挺好的

I'm Doing Okay in Another City

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Sismance, Family, Contemporary Romance

Network: MangoTV

Year: 2021
Episodes: 12 (+ 2 Extras)

Recap Grade: A

First Impression: 4.25/5

Crossroad Bistro | Recap and Review

Five stunning ladies at different walks of their lives open a bistro together.
Notable Actors/Actresses

Lan Ying Ying: Bao Xue

Jin Chen: Dai Xiao Yu

Chuai Ni: Si Meng

Sui Yuan: Feng Xi

Wang Luo Dan: You Shan Shan

Zheng Ye Cheng: Zhao He Nan
Chinese Title
北辙南辕

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Sismance, Contemporary Romance

Network: iQIYI

Year: 2021
Episodes: 18/30

Recap Grade: D

First Impression: 2.9/5

[* Dropped *]

My Treasure | Summary and Review

A pair of mother and daughter meet a pair of brothers (not actually related). Each family has their past that we slowly peel back.

Notable Actors/Actresses

Chen Wei Qi: Qiu Dong Na

Liu Min Tao: Qiu Xiao Xia

Roy Qiu: Gu Fei

Director

Liu Hai Bo

Chinese Title
生活家

The Experts of Life/Living

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Sismance, Family, Contemporary Romance

Network: iQIYI

Year: 2021
Episodes: 35

The Imperial Coroner | Recap and Review

A coroner and a detective/criminal psychologist.
Notable Actors/Actresses

Wang Zi Qi: Xiao Jin Yu

Su Xiao Tong: Chu Chu 

Director: 

Lou Jian

Scriptwriter: 

Qing Xian Ya Tou (Leisure Girl), Qian Xiao Bai

Chinese Title
御賜小仵作 

Genres: Period, Romance, Bromance, Sismance, Team, History, Mystery, Period Romance

Network: Tencent Video

Year: 2021
Episodes: 36

Recap Grade: A
First Impression: 4.25/5

[In-Depth Discussion]

The Long Ballad | Recap and Review

A princess out for revenge and meets her protector. 
Notable Actors/Actresses

Dilraba Dilmurat (Dilireba): Li Chang Ge

Wu Lei: Ashile Sun

Zhao Lu Si: Li Le Yan

Fang Yi Lun: Wei Shu Yu

Liu Yu Ning: Hao Du

Director

Zhu Rui Bin, Cheng Feng (assistant)

Scriptwriter

Ji Sang Rou

Chinese Title

長歌行

Genres: Period, Romance, Sismance, History, Period Romance

Network: Tencent Video

Year: 2021
Episodes: 49

Recap Grade: B→A
First Impression: 2.49/5

The Message | Recap and Review

A murder mystery night; spies trying to find spies. 
Notable Actors/Actresses

Janice Man (Wen Yong Shan): Li Ning Yu

Xu Lu: Gu Xiao Meng

Tony Yang: Wu Zhi Guo

Zhou Yi Wei: Long Chuan Fei Yuan

Director: 

Li Yun Liang 

Scriptwriter: 

Jia Dong Yan, Wu Yao

Chinese Title
風聲

The Sound of Wind

Genres: Historical Era, Slight Romance, Sismance, Team, Suspense

Network: Tencent Video

Year: 2020
Episodes: 38

First Impression: 3.7/5

Dear Missy | Recap and Review

A story about girls: friendship, career, and romance. 
Notable Actors/Actresses

Li Yi Tong: Lu Ke

Jin Chen: Shen Si Yi

Zhang Chao: Yao Yuan

Director: 

Deng Ke, Liu Chang

Chinese Title
了不起的女孩

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Sismance, Contemporary Romance

Network: iQIYI

Year: 2020
Episodes: 36

Recap Grade: B
First Impression: 3/5

A Murderous Affair in Horizon Tower | Recap and Review

A murder takes place in Horizon Tower. The death of this girl brings about the deepest and darkest secrets of everyone involved in her life. 
Notable Actors/Actresses

Guo Tao: Zhong Jing Guo

Yang Zi Shan: Yang Rui Sen

Angelababy: Zhong Mei Bao

Lv Yu Lai: Xie Bao Luo

Director: 

Chen Zheng Dao, Xu Zhao Ren

Scriptwriter: 

Shu Qiao, Shen Yang, Ren Peng, Yi Shuai Jie

Chinese Title
摩天大樓

Genres: Contemporary, No Romance, Sismance, Suspense

Network: Tencent Video

Year: 2020
Episodes: 16

Recap Grade: A
First Impression: 5/5

Twenty Your Life On | Recap and Review II

Four girls in their twenties who are vastly different from each other find their way in life.

Notable Actors/Actresses

Bu Guan Jin: Jiang Xiao Guo

Guan Xiao Tong: Liang Shuang

Li Geng Xi: Luo Yan 

Dong Si Yi: Duan Jia Bao

Jin Shi Jia: Zhou Xun

Wang An Yu: Duan Zhen Yu

Director

Li Zhi

Chinese Title

二十不惑

Twenty Not Confused

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Sismance, OWYM, Contemporary Romance

Network: MangoTV

Year: 2020
Episodes: 40

[Episodes 1-20 are in another post]

Recap Grade: A
First Impression: 4.5/5

Twenty Your Life On | Recap and Review

Four girls in their twenties who are vastly different from each other find their way in life.

Notable Actors/Actresses

Bu Guan Jin: Jiang Xiao Guo

Guan Xiao Tong: Liang Shuang

Li Geng Xi: Luo Yan 

Dong Si Yi: Duan Jia Bao

Jin Shi Jia: Zhou Xun

Wang An Yu: Duan Zhen Yu

Director

Li Zhi
Chinese Title

二十不惑

Twenty Not Confused

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Sismance, OWYM, Contemporary Romance

Network: MangoTV

Year: 2020
Episodes: 40

[Episodes 21-40 are in another post]

Recap Grade: A

First Impression: 4.5/5

I Don’t Want to Be Friends With You | Recap and Review

An ungrateful daughter travels back in time to be best friends with her mom. 

Notable Actors/Actresses
Zhuang Da Fei: Li Jin Bu
Zhou Yan Chen: Duan Xiao
Chen Hao Yu: Li Qing Tong

Director

Tian Yu

Scriptwriter:

Cheng Xiao Mao, Cheng Meng Yan

Chinese Title

我才不要和你做朋友呢

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, School, Sismance, Family, Fantasy, Contemporary Romance

Network: MangoTV

Year: 2020
Episodes: 24
First Impression: 3/5

Youth | Recap and Review

A light drama trying to be dark; a dark drama trying to be light. Passed this up the first time I saw it but trying it now because I'm a new fan of Yu Shu Xin.

Notable Actors/Actresses
He Lan Dou: Lin Xiao Chun
Yu Shu Xin: Chen Chen Chen
Yang Zhi Ying: Ni Jin
Wang Yang Zhi: Han Yi Tong
Wang Wei: Zhang Sheng Nan

Chinese Title
最親愛的你
Dearest You

Genres: Contemporary, Romcom, Sismance, Comedy, Contemporary Romcom

Network: Youku

Year: 2018
Episodes: 26

Contemporary Romance Central

Criteria: 

✓ Love story is front and centre. 

✓ Balanced ML vs FL screen-time

Genres (but not all-inclusive): 

✓ Contemporary, Romance, Bromance , Sismance, Family, Contemporary Romance

Excluding overlapping dramas (which will be its own category):

𐄂 CEO romances

𐄂 Campus romances
𐄂 Female ensembles 

𐄂 Work++ / Family++