2023 Better CDramas
aka 2023 My Langya List
According to personal preferences, so won't be many romances, unless the story is good. Include Mainland, TW, and HK dramas. Ranked according to quality or expected quality.
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1. Man Chang De Ji Jie
Chinese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
One of the highest rated shows in years. Mixes crime with SoL set in the China's Northeast rustbelt. Excellent acting and production. Serious and focused attention required for best enjoyment.
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2. The Outcast
Chinese Drama - 2023, 27 episodes
Modern Wuxia pioneer, one of the best manhua adaptations. Hilarious, with tight pacing and solid acting from key characters. Editing, camera work, music, CGI all show far higher level of intentionality and polish compared to most cdramas.
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3. Fake It Till You Make It
Chinese Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
A realistic and profound examination of life and love for the urban professionals in modern China, one of the best romance cdramas. Tight pacing and polished production. While some may not appreciate the workplace segments, others will really appreciate these as they add to the realism and gravity of the drama.
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4. Bu Liang Zhi Nian Qing Chu Shi
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
Quirky, comedic, and heartwarming. This show has plenty of mystery, heart, family, bromance, and laughs.
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5. Living
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
Highly rated school year SoL comedy
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6. Que Dao Men Chuan Qi
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
Hilarious wuxia sitcom featuring one of the godfathers of Chinese comedy. Insightful parody and commentary of modern China through its wacky skits.
However the subs are terrible and it doesn't feature young attractive people of idol dramas.
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7. Ba Chi Men De Bian Hu Ren
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
Highly rated TW thriller
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8. Chi Zi Zhi Xin
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
One of the best medical Cdramas in years.
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9. Yesterday
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
Realistic and profound youth drama that's very different from the typical youth romance.
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10. Bright
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
Another youth drama that doesn't focus on romance but provide an intriguing look at the studies and struggles of students in China.
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11. Fu Bei De Qi Zhi
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
Realistic SoL drama focused on the recent periods in the Chinese rustbelt.
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12. There Will Be Ample Time
Chinese Drama - 2023, 36 episodes
Realistic SoL drama revolving around career women in their 30s.
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13. Spy Game
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
Hidden gem. Tight pacing, intriguing dialog, coherent screen logic, and terrific acting from start to finish.
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14. The Lord of Losers Season 2
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Sequel to the whimsical and popular sitcom Lord of Losers.
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15. Our Story in Beijing
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
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16. Punch Out
Chinese Drama - 2023, 39 episodes
Early episodes were so good that it had the making of Breaking Bad. But last 3rd of the show tanked hard under the weight of censorship.
Frontrunner for the 2023 NRTA Award -
17. Ceng Shao Nian
Chinese Drama - 2023, 25 episodes
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18. Fan Cheng Zhi Xia
Chinese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
Excellent cinematography in this historical mystery crime drama.
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19. Meet Yourself
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
Soothing, realistic, SoL drama with solid acting and production.
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20. Girl's Jiang Hu
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Hilarious Wuxia comedy that mostly retains a coherent central plot line.
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21. Country Love 15
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
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22. The Lotus Casebook
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
Solid Wuxia effort that delivers a steady diet of bromance, intrigue, and engaging characters.
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23. Wu Long Shao Nian
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
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24. Gu Si Xiang Qu
Chinese Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
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25. Three-Body
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
Better than expected and faithful to the book. Could have been stellar with more budget and less NRTA
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26. The Nine
Chinese Drama - 2023, 25 episodes
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27. At the Moment
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
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28. Luo Yao Knew What He Meant
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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29. A Journey to Love
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
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30. Imperfect Victim
Chinese Drama - 2023, 29 episodes
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31. Li Gong
Chinese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
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32. An Ye Ming Tan
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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33. Love When the Stars Fall
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
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34. Lost You Forever
Chinese Drama - 2023, 39 episodes
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35. The Future Handbook
Chinese Drama - 2023, 7 episodes
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36. Shao Nian Ge Xing
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
Premiered at end of 2022, but most episodes aired in 2023.
One of the better manga/anime adaptations. Pacing and CGI was commendable in the early segments. Could have been an 8.0 if the plot and pacing was better in the latter segment of the show. Also many of the younger cast have major room for improvement in their acting. -
37. Speed Paradox
Chinese Drama - 2023, 22 episodes
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38. Extraordinary Medic
Chinese Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
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39. Shuang Xi
Chinese Drama - 2023, 36 episodes
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40. West Out of the Yu Men
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
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41. Xian Wei Jing Xia De Da Ming
Chinese Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
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42. Young Blood 2
Chinese Drama - 2023, 27 episodes
The more polished sequel to YB1 with much improved acting. But just like YB1, suffers from the lack of focus created by a few plot twists too many.
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43. Copycat Killer
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
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44. Candle in the Tomb: South Sea Wasteland
Chinese Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
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45. The Criminal Police Force
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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46. Bionic
Chinese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
Decent Scifi effort that benefits from the 'shorter is better' mantra. Though compared to better scifi works, the concept, themes, and execution is rather derivative. Both Song Weilong and Vicki Chen could have played their roles better, but were both serviceable.
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47. Xue Qu Fang
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
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48. Intern Lawyer
Chinese Drama - 2023, 36 episodes
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49. Be Your Own Light
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
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50. Nothing But Love
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
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51. Light on Series: Moses on the Plain
Chinese Drama - 2023, 6 episodes
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52. Fearless Blood
Chinese Drama - 2023, 18 episodes
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53. Half of Us
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Style and aesthetics over substance?
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54. Quan Zi Jin Zu
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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55. Where Dreams Begin
Chinese Drama - 2023, 38 episodes
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56. My Dear Destiny
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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57. I Belonged to Your World
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
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58. The Gate of Renewal
Chinese Drama - 2023, 36 episodes
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59. Brotherhood of Blades: Shadow of Mountain and River
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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60. Killing Game
Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes
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61. Who's Your Daddy?
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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62. Innocent Playmates
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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63. Lang Jun Bu Ru Yi
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
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64. Ren Sheng
Chinese Drama - 2023, 37 episodes
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65. Stand By Me
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
Highly rated comedy that's seriously undermined by its acting.
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66. Good Morning, Forbidden City
Chinese Drama - 2023, 35 episodes
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67. Gourmet Affairs
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
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68. Dissipated Traces
Chinese Drama - 2023, 32 episodes
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69. Hei Bai Mi Ma
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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70. Start Here
Chinese Drama - 2023, 33 episodes
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71. Wen Cang Mang
Chinese Drama - 2023, 32 episodes
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72. My Dearest Friends
Chinese Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
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73. Mr. Leng and Miss Tian
Chinese Drama - 2023, 31 episodes
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74. This Lifetime Is Also the First
Chinese Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
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75. Xing He Ban Shi Cu
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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76. Wo Zhi Dao Wo Ai Ni
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
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77. The Light in the Night
Chinese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
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78. Xia Hua
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes