I (still) aten't dead

Riding on the Wind: first mini I watched properly, I actually recapped this one! (my focus and motivation for watching become Pretty Clear straight away) It was a fun little project but I won't be attempting it with anything much longer. A nice time, lovely soft-focus-pretty throughout and some delightful montages. Exactly what I needed as a little treat between longer dramas. (Shame I was relying on rubbish subtitles, I could tell there were points that could have been a lot more poetic....if I could understand them. Oh well!)

Pursuit of Jade: Think I enjoyed the process of watching it more than I actually enjoyed the drama itself by the end (it got me posting regularly and writing meta!). First half was still very good, the whole thing was lovely to look at and I never got tired of the gorgeous lighting and cinematography BUT (as many people have discussed in more detail) it fell off the rails writing wise which is a REAL SHAME. My inner editor will be stewing over this one for a while. (longer thoughts HERE)

Story of Yanxi Palace: The drama that got me making gifs AND posting from my laptop (tumblr being a phone-only thing before) So many lovely colours, so many beautifully framed shots, so many sad and scheming and interesting women...one stupid Emperor, but he kind of improved (??) towards the end. (Longer thoughts HERE)

How Dare You?!: The drama that got me posting screenshots and actually engaging with tumblr. A delightful time, start to finish (even the sad bits) (Longer thoughts HERE)

A Dream Within a Dream: Not my fav but enjoyed quite a bit of it despite an annoying main and over-stretched middle. Gets an honourable mention for being the thing that somehow pushed me into posting my opinions online. (Longer thoughts HERE)

Sword and Beloved: (Started prev year but just took me ages to finish) Turned out to be less than the sum of its parts unfortunately. Was at least lovely to look at (and I'm including Chang Huasen in that). Flicking round other people's opinions I was less hooked by the beginning but more tolerant of the midway swerve. Would have a fine enough time when I started actually watching an episode, but it took genuine effort to choose it over any other option. Damp squib of an ending (except for the Quan Rumu bits which were surprisingly effective on me - he was also a highlight any time he popped up)

Fated Hearts: Delightful main pair who are feral and intense in the best of ways, amnesia done right, at least one point where I gasped and whispered "oh they're married", delightful sidekicks (awful stupid sister but we all know that)

.....Start of 2026.....

Love in the Clouds: Took me a little bit to adjust to the tone at the beginning as it wasn't what I expected, lost interest in the overall plot by the end but really enjoyed the middle! Fun sparks between the two leads, or maybe they're just two very pretty people in close proximity? Didn't really stick with me after I finished, just how it goes sometimes.

A Journey to Love: Very sad and very good - was set up as a tragedy and followed through, so no complaints from me. Loved the main couple's dynamic (adored the scene where he carved a little cat for her) Can't even begin to list all the characters I liked because there were so many and it was basically all of them.

I Am Nobody: A fun little modern detour! Mainly started because of all the Hou Minghao gifs I'd seen and he was as delightful as advertised. All the characters won me over though - I'd often start an episode and think "oh, we're focusing on that one? But I don't care about their backstory" and I'd be wrong every time. A lot of fun, I wanted to spend more time with basically everyone. (oh and the QR code joke startled a very loud laugh out of me)

My Journey to You: I needed more beautiful people in elaborate outfits twirling round in slow motion while crying a single glistening tear - this did not disappoint. Plot felt a little thin in places, I kind of wish the main spy/assassin hadn't converted to the good side so quickly? All irrelevant next to the Gong Shangjue/Yuanzhi brothers, I was delighted by every poisonous smirk. The plot coming down to Brotherly Trust really worked for me. (controversial opinion I'll hide in here: They should have let Jin Fan die and kept Young Master Hua alive)

Fangs of Fortune: Gorgeous, beautiful, so much crying, so many sequins, would be half the length if you sped up all the slow-motion but where would be the fun in that. Still humming the songs, still thinking about the character dynamics (............wish I found Wen Xiao less annoying towards the end after they stopped letting her DO things and she started just watching and crying - in slow motion, obviously) Need to see more Tian Jiarui in things.

Dawn Amidst Hidden Clouds: I actually started watching this while I was waiting for Blood River to update and I needed more Chang Huasen. I do like a mystery and this one was....fine. Ending was sad but not unexpected, could barely summarise the plot now if I tried. Had a nice time with it while I was watching, CH was enough to keep me going but I did like the whole bunch of them.

Blood River: Reignited my obsession with cdramas (I heard it had gay assassins and turns out that was my activation code). I'm incapable of saying if it's good I just know I had a wonderful time with it. Rewatched all my favourite bits at least twice, sent me spiraling back into tumblr and adding stuff to my watchlist and binging dramas and.....and... One day I'll rewatch it and maybe I'll be able to form a coherent opinion.

.....Some amount of time passes.....

Joy of Life: This was the next name that popped up a lot (apart from Nirvana in Fire, I'll finish that one day....) and yup: also really good. Probably better quality overall but I wasn't as completely taken over by it - think it suffered in comparison by coming directly after the last two. Still definitely Very Good, found the main characters charming and the twists and turns satisfying. Deserves a rewatch before I hit S2.

The Untamed: This was the other big name I kept hearing, thought it couldn't compare to how much I enjoyed WoH but gave it a go....and oh wow. Was deeply absorbed, full on obsession for this one. Will attempt to go back one day and watch now I've got a few more to compare it to but I see why this was so many people's first hook.

Word of Honor: My first! Actually started this one because I read a fanfic using characters from this show in another setting and I worked backwards from that. I was hypnotised and enthralled.