THE GREAT MOVE: FROM K- TO C-
Hi.
It seems 2024 is moving on a high-speed train cause for some reason we are already in mid-March and its even about to end.
Loving something as much as I do K-dramas, makes you want to know everything about it and watch it long enough, you find yourself venturing into Chinese, Japanese and eventually but not so soon Thai dramas.
So today I am introducing the first of the brothers, Chinese dramas (C-dramas for short). Chinese dramas have come a long way from having weird storylines to having very tight knit and well interwoven plots that keep you glued to your seat. If you like me, prefer subbed dramas over dubbed ones, the drastic change in language might come as a shock but the flow in the story itself seems not so far off from their Korean counterparts.
The Chinese dramas give us a peep, feel and taste of a culture, life and tradition that is not ours yet seems strangely familiar. As Korean and Chinese cultures are founded on similar moral principles, it is not so hard to see how similar they seem to African culture as they are both, as family-centric and respect-driven.
A note of warning though, if you felt that the 8–24 episodes of Korean dramas were a lot then you have a lot set in store for you as Chinese dramas range anywhere from 25 to 60 episodes. Once the story starts, Chinese dramas endeavor to tell us everything happening in the life of our characters. Nothing is left to your imagination.
I have done the trial and error so that you do not have to and thus here is my top 5- romantic welcome to C-dramas list.
1. Hidden Love:
If you had Netflix anytime from June 2023 to the end of 2023, Hidden Love would have popped up at least once on your radar. The drama is one of my favorites and is one of the shorter and straight to the point stories. It follows the life of Sang Zhi, in 25 episodes, as she decides on what she wants and makes bold steps towards it, and we cannot but applaud her each step of the way. The beautiful romance story has no distracting second male lead, and each character is well built and incredibly eye catchy.
Ready for a mind-clearing romance story with a female lead who has her head screwed on tight, then Hidden Love is just right.
2. Love like the galaxy:
This, without doubt, is my personal favorite. The two-part show presents the incredibly smart and witty Shao Shang as she struggles to survive and grow while retaining not only her identity but her sense of self as well and Ling Buyi who is on a mysterious mission. As their interactions deepen, we are presented with action, heartbreak, sorrow, joy and most of all, naturally infused laughter that draws us to the period drama.
If you like your action and romance all rolled up in a period drama, then head on straight to Love like the galaxy.
3. You are my glory:
This was one of the first good C-dramas I saw, and it left me feeling all shades of good and a regained faith in the C-drama industry. It also introduced me to leads Yang Yang and Dilraba. It follows the story of a popular actress Qiao Jingjing as she seeks the help of her long-estranged former classmate Yu Tu in preparation for a mobile game contest in a bid to regain her glory.
The 32-episode drama follows the trials, joys and eventual success of our leads and leaves you feeling good.
4. When I fly towards you:
“Rang Rang!” I literally hear that every time I think of this drama. It follows the ever-cheerful Su Zai in her new school and her constant encounter with the aloof and cool Zhang Lu Rang. As drops of water eventually weathers the stone, Su Zai’s warm personality eventually weathers the stone-like personality of her Rang Rang.
If school dramas full of sunshine are your choice, then when I fly towards you is just right.
5. Who rules the world:
Who rules the world is one of the older ones on this list but is still gold. It is a period fantasy because we are tired of real life. Two individuals, Hei Feng Xi and Bai Feng Xi, with superior, unique and yet striking abilities must put aside their age-long enmity and pride and come to a peaceful resolution to protect the world and their identities; in the process they find more than peace along the way.
Sword-action, flying, and in-built romance up your lane, then who rules the world is just right.
As we all show love to each other, we should also realize that true love comes from within, and we cannot give what we don’t have. It is important to love ourselves and not just one day but everyday so that we can differentiate love from obsession and protection from imprisonment. As I always say figure out what coping, or care mechanism works for you and take a breather. It is okay to rest. You have only one you.
ENJOY YOUR DAY HONESTLY.
