Okay I’ll bite. I haven’t watched enough kdramas this year so I intended to skip out entirely this time but I’m seeing lots of you guys mentioning Cdramas. They are the ones giving me joy this year and the “can’t wait to be free and watch the new episode” feeling. Since I’ve never been consistent in these lists, I’ll write them in bulk.
1. Best Female Lead
It’s a tie between Na heed do from 2521and Yoo Jeong from Bloody Heart.
I like the former a tad bit more because NHD’s passion and optimism for her goal inspired me to do something with my life too.
Though similarly, Yoo Jeong’s compassion made me see things from a different perspective on a large scale. Not to forget her wits and being an incredibly smart FL that can easily outsmart two prominent men in the kingdom.
I think I need a rewatch of both shows.

2. Best Male Lead
Hands down Dongfang Qingcang from Love between Fairy and Devil.
Noone comes close especially in a year of lackluster Male leads but he would’ve maintained the spot among strong competitors too.
It has been quite a while since I’ve seen such a tangible character growth, not happening over night and if it does even happen because of love there is so much logic behind that. Not getting over his “Benzou” any soon.

Honorable Mention: Yin Zheng, New life begins: Best husband
Lu Xun, Legally Romance :Or I should say younger Lu Xun.

3. Best Womance/Bromance
For Womance: All the women in New Life Begins
This show is consciously made to reverse all tropes about women in palace. This is the best costume historical fluff drama I have seen about women and it solely focuses on female friendship and comradeship in a place where they all are strangers. Such a feel good and light breezy drama for winters. I’m loving every bit of it.

Honorable Mentions: Na hee do and Ko Yu Rim as an excellent enemies to friends relationship.

For bromance: Dongfang Qingcang and Changheng
I know many would think DFQC and Shangque need to be here. But these were loyal comrades.
Like Na hee do and Ko Yu Rim, DFQC and Changheng were enemies, just on a very bigger scale.
These two ended up becoming friends through a very tangible and understandable route. There are two ways to go about fantasy. You can either complicate it more because there are so many leeways you can take or you can use the fantasy devices to simplify things that are difficult to show in an otherwise non fantasy drama. The show did the latter and oh so well. Not only did Changheng knew his boundaries as a second lead, he also became good friends with the Male lead. I loved both their growth arcs and how it wasn’t one dimensional or only related to one form of love.

4. Biggest Disappointment
Love is for Suckers! You have Lee Da Hee, Choi Si Won, an interesting 4 premier episodes, what went wrong? I feel the writer originally wanted to write a low key slice of life like the first 4 episodes but was told that’s not interesting enough. So she added the dating reality show. Or maybe the show was always a mess. I dropped it long ago but I wish I hadn’t hoped it would be good from the beginning.

Honorable/Dishonorable mention: My Liberation Notes. I expected better, a lot better but I knew I wasn’t going to like it from the moment they took the romantic route between the leads. Still haven’t seen the last episode, I was just so disappointed because it could’ve been really better.
Also She and her perfect husband: I waited 2 years to see this much lawyering? Really show?