Warm on a Cold Night | Recap and Review

A strange disease renders a female constable useless, but touching a hot man gives her life.
Notable Actors/Actresses

Bi Wen Jun: Han Zheng 

Li Yi Tong: Su Jiu’er

He Rui Xian: Chi Lan (Qi General)

Chen He Yi: Wen Jun (Qian Prince)

Yang Shi Ze: Wen Ying (Qian Crown Prince)

Liu Te: Mu Yan

Director

Li Hui Zhu, Deng Wei En, Huang Bin

Scriptwriter

Hu Hui

Chinese Title
九霄寒夜暖

Warmth in the Cold Nine-Heavens (Jiu-Xiao)

Genres: Period, Romcom, Mystery, Fantasy, Period Romcom

Network: iQIYI

Year: 2023
Episodes: 36

Recap Grade: A
First Impression: 3.25/5

Double Love | Open Thread + Reviews

A film student seeks revenge on her crush by becoming his assistant.

Notable Actors/Actresses

Zhang Xue Ying: Lu Wan Wan / Chu He

Bi Wen Jun: Han Jing Mo / Mo Bai Zhi Jian

Scriptwriter:

Xu Ting

Chinese Title
墨白

White Ink

Genres: Contemporary, Romcom, Sports, Contemporary Romcom

Network: iQIYI

Year: 2022
Episodes: 24

My Unicorn Girl | Recap and Review

A guy with face blindness cannot recognize anyone, but this one girl who’s disguised as a guy. 
Notable Actors/Actresses

Chen Yao: Sang Tian

Guan Hong: Wen Bing

Director: 

Yu Zhong Zhong

Screenwriter: 

Fang Qiang Qiang

Chinese Title
穿盔甲的少女

Genres: Contemporary, Romcom, School, Sports, Contemporary Romcom

Network: iQIYI

Year: 2020
Episodes: 24

Recap Grade: A
First Impression: 3/5

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++

December Dramas

If we hide, will December not find us?
Period: December

Picture Details: New Life Begins | Bai Jing Ting, Tian Xi Wei

The Silence of the Monster | Open Thread

A locksmith, an appraiser, and an intern lawyer healing others and themselves. 
Notable Actors/Actresses

Bi Wen Jun: He Chu Feng

Sun Yi Han: Sui Yi

Zhu Zheng Ting: Luo Bin

Zhang Bo Jia: Fang Qi / Xiao An

Director

Ying Ying Lu

Chinese Title
孤獨的野獸

The Lonely Beast

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, ~Bromance, Contemporary Romance

Network: iQIYI

Year: 2022
Episodes: 36

Work/Life/Family ≥ Romance

Criteria: 

✓ Balance of Work / Family / Self-Improvement 

✓ Workplace Dramas (including lawyers, doctors, firefighters, bankers, etc.)

✓ Big Family Dramas 

✓ Romance can still be romantic. It just isn't the focus. 

✓ Balance of ML and FL screen-time

Genres (but not all-inclusive): 

✓ Contemporary

✓ Romance (Contemporary Romance) / Slight Romance / No Romance. 

✓ CEOs who actually work

Excluding overlapping dramas that are mainly:

𐄂 Ladies Ensembles

𐄂 Romantic > Work/Life/Family are in  Contemporary Romance Central

I Am Nobody | Open Thread

A shameless outcast beating all outcasts. 

Notable Actors/Actresses

Peng Yu Chang: Zhang Chu Lan

Hou Ming Hao: Wang Ye

Director: 

Xu Hong Yu

Scriptwriter: 

(Author: Mi Er)

Chinese Title
異人之下

Under the Outcasts

Genres: Contemporary, Slight Romance, Bromance, Action, Comedy 

Network: Youku

Year: 2023
Episodes: 27

Ni Chang | Recap and Review

A seamstress out to vindicate her family and meets a prince 
Notable Actors/Actresses

Li Jia Qi: Xi Xiao Ni / Ni Chang

Li Jia Qi: Ouyang Zi Yu / Prince Luo

Director: 

Ding Ying Zhou

Chinese Title
小女霓裳

Genres: Period, Romcom, Period Romcom

Network: Youku

Year: 2021
Episodes: 40

Recap Grade: A
First Impression: 2.75/5

Action | Thriller | Sports

Criteria: 

✓ Action (+ Desert)

✓ Sports

✓ Thriller

✓ Sci-fi

Genres (but not all-inclusive): 

✓ Contemporary, Action, Sports, Team 

✓ All variations of romances: Romcom, Romance, Slight Romance, No Romance, BL

Excluding overlapping dramas that are mainly:

𐄂 Police / Mafia

𐄂 Crime / Suspense

[2023] Heat Index Summary | iQIYI

Ready for the 🔥🔥🔥🔥?

Campus Romances / Coming of Age

Criteria:

✓ Campus Romances

✓ Coming of Age

Genres (but not all-inclusive): 

✓ Contemporary, School

✓ Romance (Contemporary Romance) / Romcom (Contemporary Romcom)

Excluding overlapping dramas that are mainly:

𐄂 Students / Teachers who actually study/work more than love are in Work/Life/Family ≥ Romance.

Scheming/Palace Romances

Criteria: 

✓ A degree of seriousness in the plot

✓ Scheming / Revenges / Palace Politics

✓ Romance

Genres (but not all-inclusive): 

✓ Period, Romance, Palace, Bromance , Sismance, Period Romance

✓ Transmigration

Excluding overlapping dramas that are mainly:

𐄂 Mystery
𐄂 Wuxia

Dr. Tang | Reviews

A cardiac surgeon saving hearts (and stealing hearts).

Chinese Title

關於唐醫生的一切

Everything About Dr. Tang

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Sismance, Team, Contemporary Romance, 

Network: iQIYI

Year: 2022
Episodes: 36

[Medical Recaps]

November Dramas

O’ Dramas, where art thou!

Period: November

Picture Details: Mr. Bad | Chen Zhe Yuan, Shen Yue

My Sassy Princess | Reviews

A sassy princess seduces her austere guard. 

Chinese Title
祝卿好

To Wish (My) Wife Well 

Genres: Period, Romcom, Period Romcom

Network: iQIYI

Year: 2022
Episodes: 22

[Recaps]

September Dramas

Period: September

Picture Details: Fake It Till You Make It | Han Dong Jun

[2023] Q1 Heat Index Summary

Ready for the 🔥?

Period: January – March

May Dramas

Period: May

Picture Details: The Love You Give Me | Wang Zi Qi, Wang Yu Wen, Cui Yi Xin

February Dramas

Period: February

Picture Details: My Lethal Man | Fan Zhi Xin