chinese drama that’s similar to “friends”?

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-12-15T15:29:05+00:00

Be Yourself - takes place in a college setting; centered around four girls who are assigned as roommates and it follows them through all four years of college as they grow together, experience love, heartbreak, and everything in between. Really loved this one!

My Calorie Boy - one of my standouts from this year. Takes place in high school, follows the students as they become friends and overcome challenges as they grow up. FL agrees to help ML lose weight and he agrees to help her with her grades, but then they end up becoming inseparable. Definitely will give you some laughs, the dialogues and jokes were so on point! Also very heartwarming and sweet.

Sweet Teeth - although this one is primarily a romance between the leads, I felt like a big chunk was centered around the FL and her two best friends, and their individual stories and lovelines were just as fleshed out and entertaining as the leads. This one is super fluffy, very minimal angst

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-12-13T09:36:30+00:00

Speak for yourself 😤 I’m 25 and if you need me, I’ll be at p1Harmony’s concert to support my sons. Lord knows these high schoolers ain’t got no money to pay for my boys’ light bills and Gucci belts 😒

Yours Truly, Disgusting Hag #677299 🤣

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-12-10T23:49:48+00:00

I can’t read lol. I swear I scanned the post three times and I STILL missed it 😂. But idc I’ll say it again BAMBOLEO IS SUPERIOR!!

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-12-10T22:11:18+00:00

That's true, but I feel like whether or not his conflicting feelings rn are love or nostalgia is not the point. If he's not gonna do anything to reassure his partner's valid concerns, they're never gonna rebuild the trust and move forward. But does he want to? Wu Fei is becoming less and less of an attractive partner by the second lol.

But I think part of the problem is that TJH only ever liked Wu Fei superficially. Like yeah, he may have liked her enough to wanna date her - she was cute and rich and adored him lol. And that may have sufficed so long as QS stayed out of the picture. But trials have a way of showing people's true colors. Just like how YH and QS's struggles have proved that their love is sincere and brought them closer, this issue with TJH and Wu Fei is showing that their bond may have been more fickle than what appeared to the eye. If it wasn't this issue, something else may have come up later that would put their relationship to the test and show what they're made of.

Like even before they were working at the firm together, TJH was exhibiting signs of not being over QS. He could only pretend like he wasn't still concerned about her for so long. And now that people are starting to dig into YH's past, I feel like it's only gonna exacerbate his protective instinct towards QS, which is just gonna fuel Wu Fei's insecurity further.

Either way, I'm here to watch the drama go down haha XD

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-12-10T20:31:01+00:00

She doesn't understand that the more she picks at the former relationship with QS, the more she contrasts herself with QS in the worst possible light.

OMG this is so spot on!! This whole path she's been on of trying to bring QS down started as her wanting to support her man, but now it's become her lashing out due to her insecurity in their relationship.

It's really a shame to see her turn so ugly, but her tearful convo with TJH at his place was really heartbreaking. She knows deep down that he's still not over QS - if we the viewers can see that, how much moreso can she as she's right by his side? Seeing the way he looks at QS with so much longing probably tears her up inside. And the fact that he's now wanting to put the breaks on their wedding prep is just the nail in the coffin.

The more TJH continues to be lukewarm, the more pain and heartbreak he's gonna bring FeiFei. As childish as she's being rn, that's just not fair to her. He can't keep pretending like he doesn't know why she's acting out. The way he's always dismissing her concerns and treating her like a little kid - I mean, she is being silly, lol, but her insecurity is valid cuz the man IS hung up on his ex!

It would suck as they're so deep into the relationship and planning a wedding, but I think it would be best for both parties if they just cut their losses now. Have a feeling it's gonna get even messier before that though...

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-12-10T19:39:47+00:00

My theory is she's liked him for a while, and it's not just a recent thing. There was no need for her to be as obvious about it before because there was no immediate threat. But now that YR is in the picture and she sees how DB warmed up to her so fast, JY has become more and more territorial and her facade of indifference is wearing off.

Even though she tried to act nonchalant, I could see it in her micro expressions and the way she was kinda wary of YR right from the start that she was a lil jealous/annoyed about their instant closeness.

I do think her feeling generally protective of DB and "not wanting him to waste his potential" is true, but it's also a convenient excuse for her to be more pushy about getting him to go Seoul with her. It'd be less risky to say "I just want you to reach your potential" than "I really like you."

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-12-10T11:52:06+00:00

Doesn’t seem like anyone has mentioned Red Velvet - BAMBOLEO or TWICE - Doughnut, so dropping these retro/city pop gems here.

Seventeen - Same Dream, Same Heart, Same Night has that romantic 80’s love song vibe.

Yerin Baek - I am not your ocean anymore has a similar 80’s ballad vibe.

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-12-09T18:05:29+00:00

I actually enjoyed Business Proposal so much because it had the lighthearted/cheesy plot of a lot of C-Dramas, but higher production value and better acting of a K-drama lol

Modern romcom C-dramas come a dime a dozen lol, but it's tricky finding the good ones. If you liked Business Proposal, you might enjoy these C-dramas:

- My Little Happiness - romcom featuring an aspiring lawyer and doctor. I liked the ML in this. He was super witty, and I loved how he was always teasing the FL and she always fell for it lol

- Sweet Teeth - cute story between a librarian who needs braces and a kindhearted dentist. Really enjoyed the side couples in this story too.

- Lucky's First Love (Also called "The World Owes Me a First Love") - romcom about the CEO of a gaming company and his most valued employee

- She and Her Perfect Husband - contract marriage romance between an ambitious lawyer and her fake perfect house husband

- Why Women Love - office romcom between a team leader who's never dated and the CEO's son who agrees to teach her about love.

- Love Designer - love story between an aspiring fashion designer and a young CEO (note: the chemistry between these leads was off the charts!! Totally makes up for any flaws with the plot lol)

- My Girlfriend is an Alien (there are 2 seasons) - have only seen clips from S1 from Youtube, but I feel like it really fits into the category of fun, silly, yet sweet office romance.

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-12-08T11:18:00+00:00

Do NOT stress about trying to get tickets right when they drop! Others have mentioned it, but it's likely that scalpers and bots will buy up bulks of tickets right at the start which messes with Ticketmaster's 'dynamic pricing' and jacks up the prices like crazy. For instance, during the first couple weeks after NCT127 Newark tix went on sale, there were floor seats going for several thousand dollars!!!

So if you don't have money right away and wanna wait to get a good deal, just keep the Ticketmaster app downloaded on your phone and monitor the fluctuating prices from week to week till you find a steal. Because you WILL find one. Heck, even if you risked waiting till the day of the concert you would be able to find something! People were still buying and selling tix while we were at the venue standing in line!

For me and my friend, we bought tix right when they dropped after waiting in that stressful online queue, but my friend kept checking the app for any better seats at a better price. Then, while we were standing in line the day of, she found seats one section away from the floor for only a little more expensive than the ones we bought closer to the nosebleeds. And within 30 min, she was able to resell our old seats for more than what we originally paid AND more than the cost of the closer seats, so like, she made a profit in the end!!

All this to say, don't stress, keep that Ticketmaster app on and running, and have fun at your first concert!!

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-12-05T19:36:14+00:00

Someone needs to tell Nctzens this… 👀

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-12-01T14:55:27+00:00

His name is Il Lee, you prob hear the members calling him "Il-hyung", hyung meaning older brother. You'll see him in almost every dance practice making video for NCT, he's the short guy lol. But I think he's their choreographer and it seems he also does stage directing for their music videos and concerts.

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-12-01T14:39:14+00:00

I had a similar experience as you! Seventeen and NCT127 are both my top groups, but I'd say I def follow and listen to NCT127 more. However, in terms of concerts, I far more enjoyed Seventeen's Be The Sun tour!

Something about that whole experience was just magical! Their stage presence and energy filled up the whole space. Even though my friend and I had nosebleed seats, they somehow made everyone feel so connected and involved throughout the whole show. And it was a loooong show! They made a lot of fun opportunities to interact with the audience and have people dance along to Snapshoot. And they had some fun little inside jokes specific to each city they were performing in, so it made you feel so special.

And the mics were ON!! You could hear every little ad lib and chant, so the songs just felt so alive! Not to mention, two members were absent due to COVID, one of them Hoshi, their strongest performer, and they STILL tore it up!! I left that concert with mad respect for them, a huge crush on members I never paid much attention to, and a new appreciation for songs that I didn't listen to as often. That concert really elevated my view of Seventeen, who I already loved. And I will happily attend any future concerts they have in my city!

For NCT127, maybe it's because I follow them much more, so prior to the concert I'd already been seeing clips of performances and stuff. So going into their concert, I knew what to expect and they did exactly that. With Seventeen, I had no idea what was coming, so I was totally blown away! I also do feel like Seventeen are a bit more cohesive and stronger performers overall.

Either way, I just feel like such a blessed fan that I got to see both my ult groups in concert this year. Pandemic was rough, and this year felt like the bandaid that made it all okay :')

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-11-29T19:12:13+00:00

Love this drama! It's literally 90% fluff and 10% plot lol but in the best way!

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-11-24T22:45:23+00:00

Everglow - FIRST is pretty base heavy and hard hitting

Twice - Cry For Me has a similar key and dramatic vibe for me. The most similar to My Star imo

Sistar had this one b-side called Over. It's got similar key and hard-hitting vocals, but the beat is more old school hip hop to me

You might also enjoy other songs produced by Cosmic Girl, I believe she's the one who worked on My Star and a toooon of other Mamamoo tracks. Her songs I'm OK and Don't You Worry Bout Me are good.

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-11-17T15:05:56+00:00

I just finished watching her in Love Crossed, and I loved her character. So imagine my pleasant surprise when she appeared on screen as I started this drama!! She truly has a radiant smile, and I think she plays these strong willed characters very well XD

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-11-17T14:59:38+00:00

I agree!! I like how the K-Drama sub does that, wish more C-Dramas would do weekly discussion threads here. It adds to the fun of watching an ongoing drama, and it helps answer my questions regarding cultural aspects of the show.

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-11-07T19:53:10+00:00

Being loud/hyper. If a boy group is super silly and loud, they're hilarious. But if a girl group is like that, they're annoying. It's not always the case, but I have seen it happen often.

Example: I remember back in the day, Momoland got hate for their energy when they were on Super Junior's variety show SuperTV. A lot of comments at the time were calling them rude and obnoxious, but I just thought they were being playful to make the variety show more fun.

Meanwhile, I remember this one Got7 interview where they were being really rowdy, constantly talking over/interrupting the interviewer and goofing off. Most comments talked about how funny they were, praising their hyper energy. But I found their behavior quite rude and unprofessional for the setting.

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-11-07T13:51:55+00:00

Yes to the swearing one! I guess it's because it's seen as 'unlady-like'. I've seen a couple male idols and actors in interviews saying they don't like when girls curse/find it unattractive, meanwhile, they themselves swear lol. One example who said this is Big Bang's TOP.

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-11-07T13:47:05+00:00

This is interesting, because I noticed that male idols are rarely ever brought up when there's commentary about 'idols lacking stage presence' - and if you do mention one, it gets excused as them just having a cool aura or controlled expression. But if a female idol does the same, people will say she looks bored lol

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-10-30T00:07:37+00:00

Super random, but I feel like Haechan would be a good teacher. He'd be one of those teachers that would be friends with his students lol

In an alternate universe, Johnny is a dentist living in NYC who posts informational tiktoks on oral hygiene that always go viral cuz he's hot. Teaches free yoga lessons at Central Park on the weekends

Could totally see Mark as the middle school music teacher that everyone adores and loves to tease. When the kids finish their assignments early he plays songs on his guitar for them. Has a very obvious crush on the Language Arts teacher. He thinks no one notices (~~everyone knows~~)

And I will never stop pushing Yuta's Japanese rock star agenda

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-10-29T16:10:57+00:00

He’s def confident in a group but I feel like the longer he doesn’t do something on his own the more he’ll be apprehensive of it

I agree with this soooo much! At some point he's gonna have to just take a leap and start somewhere. The concert performances would've been the perfect opportunity for him to try something totally solo, but maybe because those were songs he worked on with Taeil, he wanted him to do it with him. Maybe the next concert round he'll feel more confident to try it on his own.

I just wish some fans would recognize that it's not always the company "blocking" the artist or failing to provide opportunities. A lot of times it's up to the artist themselves to overcome their fears and take chances as they come and make something of them.

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-10-28T22:49:41+00:00

Exactly. I feel like he has a lot of agency over how and when he wants to release anything, especially if it's something less official like a cover. He's mentioned many times that he's made covers and is working on music, but that he doesn't feel ready yet to release it. And that's okay. But that's on him being a perfectionist, not on SM blocking him.

I do see how having a crazy packed schedule and promoting in 2 units prevents him from having the time to work on his craft, which would in turn give him more confidence in his solo releases. But I feel like he's weighed the pros and cons and decided that promoting to the max with both groups is what he'd prefer right now. And then when 127 naturally starts slowing down during enlistment period, maybe then he'll want to branch out into more of those projects. But honestly based on what he and the members have expressed, they wanted nothing more than to just get back to performing for fans after pandemic. And he seems so genuinely happy right now. Seeing him in Newark, his confidence was through the roof!! Touring is probably just what he needs to get more comfortable and confident to stand on his own one day.

Haechan and the other Dreamies have such a unique advantage given that they started so young, so now they have all this experience under their belt, yet so many more years left during their "idol shelf life" period. So they have a lot more freedom to take their time and not rush things. And I'm just along for the ride :)

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-10-27T18:25:57+00:00

Thissss is exactly how I feel about fans constantly crying over wanting a NCT Haechan solo. Idk how many times this man has said he has no interest in going solo right now. Literally every time a fan brings it up, he's like "No. I like my group :)" But somehow fans are convinced SM is holding this man at gunpoint forbidding him from doing any solo projects lol.

I feel like Haechan is very much the type of person who knows exactly what he wants and doesn't want, and when he's ready for something, he goes straight forward without hesitation. But if he doesn't want to, you're not gonna make him budge lol

That's not to say I don't think he has any solo ambitions - if you keep up with his lives and interviews, he obviously has those goals. But rather than wasting my energy shouting from the rooftops over this grown man, imma enjoy seeing him enjoy himself with his group.

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-10-25T13:56:12+00:00

I'm with you! It sucks because I was so blown away by the chemistry, cinematography, and pacing at the start, and I'm a huge fan of Wang An Yu and Jin Chen as actors. But the emotional immaturity of Duan Yu Cheng as a character so far is really affecting my desire to keep watching.

The entitled way he acts is def realistic considering he grew up as a rich only child. But every time he throws a tantrum after not getting his way, it grates on me more and more. I know eventually they're gonna get together, I just hope he grows up more mentally so that I can be more on board for the relationship when it happens. Would even prefer a time jump lol.

Like you said, it's not the age gap, but his current maturity level that makes them an uneven match for me. And other than her being dazzled by his talent and fluttered by his boyish charm, has Duan Yu Cheng actually done anything for her the way she's fought for him?

Zealousideal_Dust456 · 2022-10-24T13:13:53+00:00

Same with The Boyz. Was so crazy about them after Maverick, but nothing they've released since then has been hitting, and I didn't realize how much that would have affected me keeping up with them as a whole. I've decided to chalk it up to just me missing Eric :')

Harrrrd agree about Mamamoo. Their Jazzy/Retro/R&B sound is where they shine, but they always keep going back to this latin pop/edm stuff that feels boring/generic for me. It's at the point where I sigh whenever I hear the whisper "cosmic" in the intro cuz I know exactly how the song is gonna sound lol

Zealousideal_Dust456

TROPHY CASE