Put it really bluntly as the title of this article, this is a post where I will be summarising the Top 10 C-dramas that I believe no one should miss out on. All the dramas that will be mentioned are all based on the broadcast year of 2022.

First, will be breaking them down based on the broad genre.

Romance

Since my rom-com suits my palette the most, there will be quite a fair bit that falls under ‘Romance’. Without further ado, let’s begin with my favorite romantic dramas.

Dine With Love

I love the message that this drama is trying to deliver, the importance of having meals with your loved ones. Meal time is so important and it should be a time you spare out from your busy day to spend with people you love and care about.

Synopsis:

The romantic comedy drama started when Yu Hao, the CEO and face of a TV cooking show was exposed of using doubles for the scenes. Su Ke Lan was promoted to the director of PR department to solve this trending situation the company is caught into. She became Yu Hao’s personal coach to learn culinary from scratch to convince viewers on his efforts.

No. of episodes: 16
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Native title: 陪你一起好好吃饭
Original network: Hunan TV, Mango TV

Premiere: 14 Feb 2022

A Romance of the Little Forest

Pure romance drama that is based on the love of mother nature and animals. The chemistry between Esther Yu and Zhang Bin Bin is adorable and they really suit their respective roles a lot.

The romance drama between a Botany professor Zhuang Yu and a beauty influencer Yu Mei Ren. Their story goes back to their college days when Zhuang Yu unintentionally hurt Yu Mei Ren’s feelings.

No. of episodes: 35
Genre: Romance, School
Native title: 两个人的小森林
Original network: YouKu

Premiere: 15 Sep 2022

Time to Fall in Love

The typical arrogant CEO falls for a bubbly poor girl/contract relationship kind of drama, but I still love it. The main leads are so sticky in the drama which I love, and there isn’t any awkwardness there.

Adapted from a web novel by Ming Yue Xi title Zong Cai Wu Chong Ti Shen Tian Qi [总裁误宠替身甜妻].

The romance drama started when Su Yan Xi was forced to take place of her twin sisters and entered a contract relationship with CEO of HuaYan, Gu Xi Cheng to please his grandmother.

No. of episodes: 24
Genre: Romance
Native title: 终于轮到我恋爱了
Original network: iQiyi

Premiere: 10 Jun 2022

Cute Bodyguard

Slightly different from the other rom-com, this drama took another approach. The main lead doesn’t want to inherit an empire, escape and hire a female bodyguard. End up falling for her.

The romance drama between an arrogant and rich third generation Gu Rong and a strong and adorable girl Su Jing. Gu Rong refuse to inherit his grandfather’s empire and escape home. He hired Su Jing as his bodyguard whom he fell in love with.

No. of episodes: 24
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Action
Native title: 那小子不可爱
Original network: iQiyi, Tencent Video

Premiere: 14 Oct 2022

Why Women Love

Maybe because Gina Jin Chen looks young, or Boogie Wang Zi Yi looks mature. Their older-woman-young-man pairing does not feel or look awkward at all. Somehow, they look really compatible on screen.

The drama started when Gu Jia Xin’s mother asked Zhao Jiang Yue to train her son who is going to be the future successor of the tech company. Zhao Jiang Yue is a strong independent woman who heads a team that launch a software to encourage dating, yet she is single.

No. of episodes: 24
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Native title: 不会恋爱的我们
Original network: Youku

Premiere: 8 Feb 2022

---

Historical

Moving on to the next genre, Historical mixing Xian Xia, Wuxia, and palace. Wuxia 武侠 and Xianxia 仙侠 are two genre that is really popular, especially Xianxia dramas.

The difference between Xianxia [仙侠] focus on spiritual growth, powers, having multiple realms of reality, interaction between fairies, deities, spirits and immortals. Usually drawn based on Buddhism and Taoism.

On the flip side, Wuxia [武侠] is a more grounded stories that based Chinese fiction filled with adventures of martial artists happen in the ancient China times.

Who Rules the World

The poster just speaks for itself. The combination of two of my favorite actors from China, Yang Yang, and Zhao Lu Si is pure joy and the entire story just makes it even better.

Adapted from a novel by Qing Ling Yue. The martial arts drama is based on two unrivaled heroes, Hei Feng Xi and Bai Feng Xi. Hei Feng Xi is handsome, smart, and elegant. Bai Feng Xi is an unrestrained and capable young woman.

No. of episodes: 40
Genre: Historical, Action, Romance
Native title: 且试天下
Original network: Tencent Video

Premiere: 18 Apr 2022

Love Between Fairy and Devil

Probably the first Xianxia drama that I’m really interested and drawn to. Perhaps is the story or the editing, it wasn’t too over the top and still able to convey the love story and tension between all the worlds.

Adapted from a novel by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang. The romantic fantasy drama begins when Orchid accidentally released the fearsome Lord Devil, Dongfang Qing Cang who was locked in a magical towers for countless centuries.

No. of episodes: 36
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Historical
Native title: 苍兰诀
Original network: iQiyi (available on Netflix as well)

Premiere: 7 Aug 2022

Love Like The Galaxy: Part 2

This drama is spilt into 2 parts and I personally prefer the second one where the romance between both the leads grow. However, it is not possible to get go with Part 2 if you have no idea what happened to the leads and how they know each other.

This drama is a pure growth, seeing Zhao Lu Si’s character growing up and learn from experience.

The story of Cheng Shao Shang who reunite with her parents who left her under the care of her grandmother for 15 years. Living in pain and pretend to be diligent yet ill to protect against her scheming aunt. Reunion does mean happily ever after, her mother was giving her strict lectures and extra tough on her.

No. of episodes: 29
Genre: Action, Historical, Romance
Native title: 月升沧海
Original network: Tencent Video

Premiere: 5 Jul 2022

Lost Track of Time

With romance but not focused on romance. This drama is a full on revenge drama that makes you wonder “Given a second chance, will you do things right?”. Unlike the romance drama that I usually see from Fair Xing Fei, this drama really show the other acting side of her.

Fate gave Lu An Ran a second chance to live again. She woke up back in her 18 year old self, moments before she met Mu Zhe that changed her life. With 10 years worth of memories and sacrifice, she vow to take revenge and alter the ending.

No. of episodes: 30
Genre: Revenge, Historical, Romance, Fantasy
Native title: 覆流年
Original network: Mango TV

Premiere Date: 31 Aug 2022

Thriller

Reset

Still the best drama that I’ve watched in 2022. Even though I caught it really early in the year, but this is by far the best C-drama in 2022.

Li Shi Qing woke up on the bus after a few times and realise that she is stuck in a loop. Her dreams of being dead after a bomb attack on the bus are real. Tried numerous ways to prevent this and coincidentally pull Xiao He Yun into the loop as well. From a total stranger on the bus, now they are in the same loop together.

No. of episodes: 15
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Native title: 开端
Original network: Tencent Video

Premiere: 11 Jan 2022

---

Does any drama entice you? Any dramas that you expect to be on the list but it is nowhere to be found? Leave a comment down!

Related post