BEANIES, I ASK THEE FOR RECS.
Been away from dramaland for about 2 years and haven’t kept up w/ releases AT ALL lol. Any good mystery/police dramas with a ship? Both blatant or subtle ships work!
To Love, is one of the best C dramas I’ve ever seen. Viki are doing the subs but I’ve watched the entire series already. It does a fascinating job of combining the police procedural element and the romance. The chemistry between the leads is off the charts.
Oooh, defo sounds interesting! Can you give me a link or the full title in the og language? Couldn’t find it with just the title to love ^^;; and thanks for the rec!
Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! I just finished watching The Good Detective and I loved it. And we can’t forget Stranger 2, which has the most unconventional of ships. Also, maybe Flower of Evil? Or maybe Nobody Knows? I haven’t watched NK, but I am given to believe that it has a really good surrogate parent relationship and it’s a mystery.
Less of a ship, but also maybe try Life on Mars? The bromance is great and there is a bit of a romantic subplot, though it doesn’t go anywhere.
I haven’t seen it yet. I was going to put some distance between it and Stranger 2 because I was so completely into that show and I believe it has similar themes.
Indeed, this is true. They are very similar shows in many ways. Very similar themes explored. The Good Detective is, perhaps, a bit more morally ambiguous, although it ends on what I would regard as a happier note than Stranger 2 (which, imo, had a good ending, but not exactly the most uplifting ending).
If ever you get around to watching The Good Detective, I recommend having a listen to this podcast from Radiolab (which I posted on my fanwall before): https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/segments/317629-dear-hector. I thought a lot about this podcast while watching the show the podcast episode combines elements of the best and worst in humanity, much like The Good Detective. One relationship in the The Good Detective particularly reminded me of this podcast.
Ooh thank you for all the recs! I was considering watching Stranger and Stranger 2 one after the other after the latter came out, because I wanted to wait and see if things got a little more shippy. I’m assuming things are still in the subtle spectrum there tho huh?
Yes, agreed! Xiao’en is a hilarious character and Situ Aoran was a living caricature. There are so many GIF-able scenes and moments from that show. I should really go back and extract as many as I can.
I also really love how the show ended and I genuinely adored the last few episodes involving Tianxing and Xiao’en! It could’ve been super annoying with all the angst, but instead I found it touching, sweet, and cute. Tianxing and Xiao’en ended up being a super adorable couple, despite all the cliches involved — or maybe because of them! After all, is it still a cliche if it’s artfully or effectively done?
I checked out the premise and it defo looks interesting! Lol it reminds me of the villainess trend in manhwa/manga of recent years (yes I will guiltily admit to being able to keep up with manhwa/manga over dramas – in my defence it’s easier to read than watch your entertainment between IRL duties 😅). Either way, I think I’ll defo need smth like this to cleanse my palette after the heavier themes in some of the other dramas lol. Thanks for the rec!
Hi @fishnchips. Limiting myself to 2020 and cops/crime mystery with a ship (blatant or subtle) I can recommend:
1. THE GOOD DETECTIVE (subtle ship), and
2. The GAME: TOWARDS ZERO (My first Taecyeon drama with a sweet ship).
2020 was the Great Year of Kdrama Crime and Mystery. In order of watching
I enjoyed these: THE GAME: TOWARDS ZERO, NOBODY KNOWS, 365: REPEAT THE YEAR, TEAM BULLDOG: OFF-DUTY INVESTIGATION, THE GOOD DETECTIVE, TRAIN, FLOWER OF EVIL, FOREST OF SECRETS 2, MISSING: THE OTHER SIDE, ZOMBIE DETECTIVE, SEARCH, and KAIROS.
Yoo, thanks for the list! Bulldog was actually on my to watch list for non-shippy reasons but I ended up reading a spoiler on who the culprit was (I know. I know. It devastated me.) so now I’m going to wait until my mind hopefully magically forgets that spoiler lol.
fishnchips
January 7, 2021 at 6:45 PM
BEANIES, I ASK THEE FOR RECS.
Been away from dramaland for about 2 years and haven’t kept up w/ releases AT ALL lol. Any good mystery/police dramas with a ship? Both blatant or subtle ships work!
Lilium
January 7, 2021 at 6:49 PM
Are C dramas included in this request?
fishnchips
January 8, 2021 at 6:34 PM
Any drama is fine with me!
Lilium
January 8, 2021 at 8:09 PM
To Love, is one of the best C dramas I’ve ever seen. Viki are doing the subs but I’ve watched the entire series already. It does a fascinating job of combining the police procedural element and the romance. The chemistry between the leads is off the charts.
fishnchips
January 11, 2021 at 8:13 AM
Oooh, defo sounds interesting! Can you give me a link or the full title in the og language? Couldn’t find it with just the title to love ^^;; and thanks for the rec!
Lilium
January 16, 2021 at 4:54 PM
https://www.viki.com/tv/37308c-to-love
最初的相遇,最后的别离
https://mydramalist.com/35849-first-meeting-last-farewell
neener ~ Inside the Magic Shop ~
January 7, 2021 at 7:06 PM
The Good Detective!
Maq
January 7, 2021 at 7:16 PM
YES! Second this one!
fishnchips
January 8, 2021 at 6:35 PM
So many people are reccing this so defo gonna check it out! Thanks a bunch
Eazal
January 9, 2021 at 1:09 AM
Please do, it’s just one of the best dramas of the year.
Also Stranger / Forest of Secrets S1 and S2.
neener ~ Inside the Magic Shop ~
January 9, 2021 at 1:32 AM
FoS1 & 2 should be included! hihi
Maq
January 7, 2021 at 7:16 PM
Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! I just finished watching The Good Detective and I loved it. And we can’t forget Stranger 2, which has the most unconventional of ships. Also, maybe Flower of Evil? Or maybe Nobody Knows? I haven’t watched NK, but I am given to believe that it has a really good surrogate parent relationship and it’s a mystery.
Less of a ship, but also maybe try Life on Mars? The bromance is great and there is a bit of a romantic subplot, though it doesn’t go anywhere.
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
January 7, 2021 at 7:29 PM
Stranger 2 and Nobody Knows are my recs, even though they don’t have an OTP
Maq
January 7, 2021 at 7:41 PM
Have you watched The Good Detective, @leetennant? I feel like it would be up your alley (maybe?).
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
January 7, 2021 at 7:43 PM
I haven’t seen it yet. I was going to put some distance between it and Stranger 2 because I was so completely into that show and I believe it has similar themes.
Maq
January 7, 2021 at 7:48 PM
Indeed, this is true. They are very similar shows in many ways. Very similar themes explored. The Good Detective is, perhaps, a bit more morally ambiguous, although it ends on what I would regard as a happier note than Stranger 2 (which, imo, had a good ending, but not exactly the most uplifting ending).
If ever you get around to watching The Good Detective, I recommend having a listen to this podcast from Radiolab (which I posted on my fanwall before): https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/segments/317629-dear-hector. I thought a lot about this podcast while watching the show the podcast episode combines elements of the best and worst in humanity, much like The Good Detective. One relationship in the The Good Detective particularly reminded me of this podcast.
Midnight
January 8, 2021 at 5:08 AM
Nobody Knows doesn’t have an OTP but has the cutest subtle love-line ever!
fishnchips
January 8, 2021 at 6:39 PM
Subtle lovelines are my biggest weakness, thanks for letting me know!
fishnchips
January 8, 2021 at 6:39 PM
Thanks for adding this opinion! I’m def interested in checking out Nobody Knows as well since ppl are mentioning it so much
fishnchips
January 8, 2021 at 6:37 PM
Ooh thank you for all the recs! I was considering watching Stranger and Stranger 2 one after the other after the latter came out, because I wanted to wait and see if things got a little more shippy. I’m assuming things are still in the subtle spectrum there tho huh?
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
January 8, 2021 at 6:47 PM
I guess that depends on your perspective. Textually, there’s no romance. They’re friends and colleagues.
Mani-chan
January 7, 2021 at 7:43 PM
It’s a Taiwanese drama but Lost Romance was one of my favourites this year
Maq
January 7, 2021 at 7:44 PM
YES YES YES YES YES! SECOND THIS! TRIPLE THIS! QUADRUPLE THIS! lol
In seriousness, Lost Romance was top three for me in 2020. I will never not recommend this show.
Mani-chan
January 7, 2021 at 9:36 PM
It’s the show I know I will rewatch if I’m ever bored. The kdrama references had me in stitches
Maq
January 7, 2021 at 9:41 PM
Yes, agreed! Xiao’en is a hilarious character and Situ Aoran was a living caricature. There are so many GIF-able scenes and moments from that show. I should really go back and extract as many as I can.
I also really love how the show ended and I genuinely adored the last few episodes involving Tianxing and Xiao’en! It could’ve been super annoying with all the angst, but instead I found it touching, sweet, and cute. Tianxing and Xiao’en ended up being a super adorable couple, despite all the cliches involved — or maybe because of them! After all, is it still a cliche if it’s artfully or effectively done?
Mani-chan
January 8, 2021 at 12:44 AM
Exactly. This show executed its cliches so well and with so much of heart that they never felt boring.
fishnchips
January 8, 2021 at 6:44 PM
😂😂😂 your overwhelming response to the rec is partially what made me check out it’s premise so thank you too!
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
January 8, 2021 at 12:58 AM
Well if we’re talking about any dramas from this year then obviously the Taiwanese Someday or One Day would be high up on that list.
fishnchips
January 8, 2021 at 6:49 PM
It does have what I consider a mystery in its premise so I think it defo counts. Thanks for the rec!
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
January 8, 2021 at 6:51 PM
It’s a beautiful, wonderful drama. And a contender for best drama of last year. You should avoid spoilers like the plague and just go in blind.
fishnchips
January 8, 2021 at 6:53 PM
Will do omd, I’ve already had one drama ruined for me spoiler-wise T-T thanks for the warning!
fishnchips
January 8, 2021 at 6:42 PM
I checked out the premise and it defo looks interesting! Lol it reminds me of the villainess trend in manhwa/manga of recent years (yes I will guiltily admit to being able to keep up with manhwa/manga over dramas – in my defence it’s easier to read than watch your entertainment between IRL duties 😅). Either way, I think I’ll defo need smth like this to cleanse my palette after the heavier themes in some of the other dramas lol. Thanks for the rec!
bong-soo
January 7, 2021 at 8:36 PM
Hi @fishnchips. Limiting myself to 2020 and cops/crime mystery with a ship (blatant or subtle) I can recommend:
1. THE GOOD DETECTIVE (subtle ship), and
2. The GAME: TOWARDS ZERO (My first Taecyeon drama with a sweet ship).
2020 was the Great Year of Kdrama Crime and Mystery. In order of watching
I enjoyed these: THE GAME: TOWARDS ZERO, NOBODY KNOWS, 365: REPEAT THE YEAR, TEAM BULLDOG: OFF-DUTY INVESTIGATION, THE GOOD DETECTIVE, TRAIN, FLOWER OF EVIL, FOREST OF SECRETS 2, MISSING: THE OTHER SIDE, ZOMBIE DETECTIVE, SEARCH, and KAIROS.
fishnchips
January 8, 2021 at 6:50 PM
Yoo, thanks for the list! Bulldog was actually on my to watch list for non-shippy reasons but I ended up reading a spoiler on who the culprit was (I know. I know. It devastated me.) so now I’m going to wait until my mind hopefully magically forgets that spoiler lol.
Fly Colours
January 8, 2021 at 2:16 AM
Hyena: it’s a lawyer drama, no great mistery, but it’s funny and there’s a crackling ship
Midnight
January 8, 2021 at 5:10 AM
Exactly
fishnchips
January 8, 2021 at 6:51 PM
I checked it out and ooof you got me. I’m probs gonna check it out for the ship alone lol. Thank you and @midnight both for the rec!