This list is changing and evolving every year or month. However, here are my top choices for right now. I am usually always after the most soppy shows that hit you in the feels, so my choices are biased towards that.
And as you know, my drama interests are quite diverse. Although my number one show is always the same, the others are listed as they came to mind. I hope you find some good options for your watching pleasure.
1. Gilmore Girls
Always at the top of my list, Gilmore Girls is my go-to show. I love that I get it all from the one show. I can have a laugh, watch some cute romance blossoming, and always feel a sense of relatedness in some way.
For those who don’t know:
Gilmore Girls is a dramedy centering around the relationship between a thirtysomething single mother and her teen daughter living in the small town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, with crazy neighbors and many ups and downs.
Lorelai has always done things her way. Raised in a world of money and cotillions, she was wilder than the other girls. Pregnant at age 16, she chose her own path, and, in true style, walked with flawless posture right out the door. With fire and determination, Lorelai has worked her way up from maid to manager at the historic Independence Inn, all while keeping sight of her dream to open her own inn. Lorelai’s 16-year-old daughter, straight-A student Rory tries to prove herself at the exclusive Chilton Preparatory School, a daunting new world of girls with attitudes and boys with shiny cars. But when Rory meets Dean, the attraction hits her like a ton of bricks and single mom Lorelai begins to notice in Rory her dreams and rebellious youth.
Starring: Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Melissa Mc Carthy, Scott Patterson
2. Greys Anatomry
I was late to the party when it came to Greys Anatomy. I started watching it years after it first premiered. But even though, I thoroughly enjoyed watching it from the beginning and learning and loving the characters. Greys definitely takes you on a rollercoaster ride throughout the seasons but it still creates a sense of nostalgia and relatedness when you watch the show.
Although it is a medical drama Greys delivers for all audiences. And of course I was all in for the Grey/McDreamy show.
If you’ve never heard about Greys Anatomy before:
A medical drama centered around Meredith Grey, who is an aspiring surgeon and is the daughter of one of the best and most popular women surgeons, Dr. Ellis Grey. Throughout the show, Meredith goes through many professional and personal challenges along with her fellow surgeons at Seattle Grace Hospital.
Starring: Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey, Sandra Oh, Justin Chambers, Chandre Wilson. Keven McKidd, Katherin Heigl
3. See You in my 19th Life
This is a new drama that was released this year (2023) so it is a new entry to my list of favourites. I think it deserves a place considering the amount of times I’ve rewatched it already this year. I’m all about the swoon, and Korean dramas have a way of making you swoon in almost every Korean drama. See You in my 19th life was no exception. It is a fantasy drama that draws you into the life of a girl who remembers all her past lives. I loved how the main characters fell in love and there was also some intrigue to keep you captivated.
The gist of the drama is:
Ban Ji-eum has always been reborn into many lives and in each life she remembers all her previous lives. But when her 18th life gets cut short, she dedicates the next one (her 19th life) to finding her childhood love.
Starring: Shin Hye-sun, Ahn Bo-hyun, Ahn Dong-goo, Ha Yoon-kyung
4. The King Eternal Monarch
Anyone who knows me has heard me refer to this drama as The King. I have such a soft spot for Lee Min-ho and this drama was just another showcasing of his brilliance and beauty. I personally think royalty suits him. The drama follows a scifi storyline that keeps you wondering how things will turn out. The lead actress Kim Go-eun is gorgeous and I have loved her ever since watching this drama.
The basic storyline is:
A modern-day Korean emperor passes through a mysterious portal and into a parallel world of Korea, where he encounters a beautiful police detective. Besides the unusual encounter between the two, they also have a unique relationship that develops from their past and future lives.
Starring: Lee Min-ho, Kim Go-eun, Woo Do-hwan, Kim Kyung-nam
5. Nevertheless
This drama was so destructive. I’ve rewatched it multiple times and always find myself crying about the same scenes. The love story between the two characters who seem made for each other but for some reason can’t seem to make it work like a normal couple. The reason I love it is because I am a sucker for bad boys trying to be good or change for the girl they love. The art aspect kind of makes it more dramatic, watching them create creative imagery.
The destructive love story:
Yoo Na-bi is a university student, majoring in art. She breaks up with her older boyfriend because of a controversial art piece he made of her. She later meets a fellow art student from a junior class who is well-known for his flirtatious reputation. Even though she knows that it is a bad decision Na-bi lets herself fall for him.
Starring: Han So-hee, Song Kang
6. The OC
Ah, this is a drama I remember from my early teen days. Ryan was the cutest boy I had ever seen. I haven’t really rewatched this show but the Ryan-Marissa love story has a special place in my heart. Ryan also has my heart for his rags-to-riches story, it’s unique and so wholesome.
About the OC:
A delinquent teen named Ryan is taken in by a lawyer and his wealthy wife in Newport Beach, California after he is kicked out and abandoned by his alchoholic and unstable mother. He meets their son Seth and they soon become best friends.
Starring: Ben Mc Kenzie, Mischa Barton, Adam Brody, Rachel Bilson
7. Falling into your Smile
So this was the first chinese drama I ever watched. I had already watched a bunch of kdramas before this but I had reservations about branching out into other asian dramas, i don’t know I can’t explain why but there was hesitation for a long while. But after coming across the trailer for this show I was intrigued and finally caved.
I loved the enemies to story between Lu Sicheng and Tong Yao. Some might get annoyed or find the gaming story a bit annoying but I feel it’s easy to get passed with budding romance between the two talented teammates. This is still top of my list when it comes to Chinese Dramas and I highly highly recommended.
Just to give you the gist of the drama:
Tong Yao earns her spot as the first formal female player in a successful gamer team ZGDX. She sets out to prove girls could be just as excellent at video gaming with her gaming skills. She not only fulfills her vows but also grows a relationship with the team leader Lu Sicheng.
Starring: Xu Kai, Cheng Xiao, Zhou Yiran
8. Normal People
This was a hidden gem I found a while on instagram during the pandemic. We all had that time of sitting at home and not knowing what to do with our lives. I obviously took to watching a whole lot of tv to pass the time.
Normal People stood out as a intriguing romance. I can admit from the poster the show looked like the chemistry in the show would be good. I was gripped in from the first episode. The emotions in the show were incredibly depicted and I can honestly say I cried a whole lot while watching this show. Paul and Daisy are incredible actors and I don’t think anyone could have portrayed Connell and Marianne better than them. I know that this was a drama made from a book, which I haven’t read, but I was truly satisfied with this show. I highly recommend if you’re looking for an emotional drama to watch.
The drama is about:
A mini series that follows Marianne and Connell, two people from different backgrounds but from the same small town in Ireland. Their sudden encounter shifts their lives in that that they drift in and out of each other’s romantic lives.
Starring: Paul Mescal, Daisy Edgar-Jones
9. The Tale of the 9 Tailed
I have watched a lot and I mean A Lot of korean dramas. The tale of the 9 tailed was one of the first few I got into. The sci-fi element brought a lot of intrigue and it was when I discovered Lee Dong Wook. I thought the drama was pretty wholesome it had enough of all genres in one. There was a good amount of action and even some horror elements. The love story was one of those love through the ages stories.
I’ve noticed in the dramas that have come out recently, it’s seems to be a trend having love stories that have happened after somekind of reincarnation. I think because of that The Tale of the Nine Tailed keeps its relevance even now.
The thing I loved most about this drama is that the ending is not as obvious as most love or swoonworthy dramas. I like that element of “surprise” if you will.
What the show is about:
Lee Yeon was once the mountain guardian spirit. During many centuries he lives his life in human form in search for the reincarnation of his lost first love and gets rid of supernatural beings that threaten the human world. Meanwhile, Nam Ji-A works as a producer for documentaries. She is always looking for stories that are supernatural because her parents were involved in a mysterious car accident and disappeared. Rang, Lee Yeon’s half-human younger brother, he disregards all humans. He continuously harms human beings as a way of pestering his brother.
Starring: Lee Dong-wook, Jo Bo-ah, Kim Beom, Kim Yong-ji
10. Little Women
I like to say that this drama is the best korean drama I have watched (of all time). I wouldn’t share this with a fellow drama watcher at first because I am lowkey a huge gatekeeper when it comes to my favourite things.
Little Women, I think, is an underrated show. The cast are not super popular so it might not have gotten alot of fame through promotion. However, Kim Go-eun is one of my favourite actress and I was keen to watch another drama starring her.
The show does not follow a usually storyline which makes it more intriguing and keeps you gripped until the end. It was an interesting story that followed political influence and how money really controls people. I also loved watching the three sisters look out for each other and no matter what struggles they were going through they were always concerned about one another.
This drama has a lot of twists and it has you eager to know what the outcome will be, you hope for justice for the characters and there is some romance that keep you rooting for some kind of happy ever after.
About this drama:
Little Women is about three sisters with a close bond who grew up in poverty. They get involved in a major incident and face off against the wealthiest family in the nation. Oh In Joo, is the eldest sister, and she wants to protect her family with money. Growing up in poverty, her only dream was to live as well off as other normal people, but the major incident completely shakes up her life.
Starring: Kim Go-eun, Nam Ji-hyun, Park Ji-hu, Wi Ha-joon