Rita's Year in Dramas 2023!

I must say that 2023 was a really hard year for me, both physically and mentally. I had three hospitalizations, a cancer diagnosis followed by surgery and was forced to move quickly in June to the boondocks of Pennsylvania (in the midst of all of the illnesses).

I actually reached out to a few of you at that time. I was lifted up by all of your emotional support. BIG hugs to Fangurl, Sean, Jennifer and dear Beez for their kindness. 😘😘😘😘 Your lovely words lifted my soul.

I usually clean up my MDL watch list at the end of each year but I was unable to so in 2023. I almost did not do an EOY review as real life had my drama schedule halted for a period of time. Hence, my request for a “Patreon post only” versus a full-fledged blog post. I am going for simple this year.

So without further ado…

I totally lost count of all the dramas I watched. Despite my best efforts and Sean’s 😘instructions on ”How to log them all”, I dropped the ball when things got really tough. My bad, but at least I had a good excuse. I lost count of any shows made prior to 2022. So, after a minimum of 56 easily trackable dramas and around 20+ movies in (and in no particular order), here is what stood out for me…

· China: Oh No! Here Comes Trouble – what a breath of fresh, and quite quirky air this was. I do love a ghost, past lives, psychics, reincarnation, shaman related story, and this fit the bill all the way around. Yi Yong and Cao Guang Yan are a match made in heaven. Great characters and while the writing got a little twisted on itself towards the end, it still was extremely watchable, very enjoyable and had a ton of heart.

· Korea: My Dearest - this is a moving, epic love story set in a backdrop of political upheaval. I kept putting this off and boy, am I glad I did because this is best binged. I finished it in 2 days and was unable to watch another drama for several days afterwards. My only complaint was the back and forth went on too long but even that was excusable. Great OTP! This is the most I have enjoyed a saguek in a long time. Thanks Sean for this recommendation 💖.

· China: Lost you Forever – I am not going to lie, this one captivated me. Yes, it got a little bonkers with the back and forth between the three MLs (yeah, that got really old), but despite that, I still loved Yang Zi in this. I threw slippers at my screen at the three MLs. I was all into this drama. This drama made me question how far a character had to go before I would say “enough”. That character was Tan Jian Ci’s portrayal of Xiang Liu. He was repulsive and attractive at the same time. I saw all his bad qualities yet I could not tear my eyes away from him – not for a second. I have my wish for continuation of events in S2 but only time will tell. Thank you Jennifer for all the chatter on this one 💖.

· China: My Journey to You – a few minutes into this drama and I knew it was going to be good. Visually stunning and well-acted, it was a real surprise. I loved the comments from our Patreon crowd – intelligent and thoughtful, they helped balance out a good drama. While I hated the ending – and yes I hated it – it was not enough to turn me off on all the good things about this drama.

· China: The Long Season – my crime drama of the year about an unsolved mystery that I almost missed. The acting is beyond sublime – it is Oscar caliber acting. Really, really good drama.

· China: Three Body – Wonderful, marvelous and so well done. Complex Sci-Fi drama with some great CGI. I am impressed with the way they pulled this adaptation off.

· China: Under the Microscope – what can I say about this one but superb acting, great story and great production. Zhang Ruo Yun is the real deal. Never doubt it. A story about a mathematical genius and his quest for the truth.

Korea: Razzie of the year|decade|century - Durian's Affair. This drama is best explained in the following acronym - WTF. I sat through all 16 twisted and warped episodes just to see if the bizarre insanity would actually continue…and it did. I could not get over that they actually filmed this. It is amaze balls bad. In the US this would become one of those really bad cult classics.

OTP of the Year – I have no real OTP of the year. The most passionate relationship was between Tan Jian Ci’s and Yang Zi and that pushed the limits of my acceptance.

Bromance of the Year- Again, Pu Yi Yong and Cao Guang Yan are a match made in heaven. I need more dramas with these two as leads. I loved them.

Netflix Win – Physical 100. I was hooked on this. I could not stop watching. A plethora of unbelievable, painful physical challenges. Of course a CrossFit athlete would win. They are used to that kind of pain and they are constantly faced with impossible WODs. My son’s CrossFit gym was all up in this and I enjoyed the gym’s “watch company” and instant message chatter between all the gym members and myself.

Year Spanning Drama – A Journey to Love. Cecilia and Liu Yu Ning are doing a great job with this but - (sorry for this little negative) - I need more passion in those kisses please. No fish lips for your two – please!

So, after this tough year I will say that I am back on track and happier than ever. I am still not up to my drama watching habits of the past but I am alive and kicking. I feel like a new me! I am back to my beloved Tai Chi three times a week. I am finally doing things for myself and I feel liberated.

Here’s to 2024 and the continuation of the magic that is “The Fangurl Verdict Effect”.

~Rita