There are so many highly anticipated C-Dramas and J-Dramas I plan to watch in 2022. Interestingly enough, most of them happen to be xianxia or historical costume dramas.
All of my favourite actors have shows coming out this year. But will these shows actually deliver? That’s the question.
I hope to at least live watch one of these shows, so I can participate in the MyDramaList.com discussion boards. I’m most excited for Eternal Love (Q1), The Longest Promise (Q2), and To The End of the Moon, which all feature some of my favourite actors.
If you’re wondering which dramas you should be watching in 2022, look no further than this list.
I’m going to grab the synopses for these dramas from MyDramaList. Just a heads up that the summaries on MyDramaList are notoriously bad, so take them with a grain of salt.
I’ll list these dramas from most anticipated to least anticipated.
Update 22/02/01: There’s some Xu Kai slander in this post. After seeing him in Ancient Love Poetry, I kinda changed my mind about his acting.
1. Meteor Garden
I started this year by watching a drama I used to make fun of people for watching. Meteor Garden.
Honestly, I’m not sure what made me want to give it a shot (okay, Dylan Wang’s pineapple head was a bit enticing), but I finally gave in and watched it. Unexpectedly, I gave it 8.5/10 on MyDramaList.
I never hate-watch shows, but since I tried to watch the first episode and failed twice, and then finally watched it a third time and then proceeded to binge the entire series, it goes to show that it’s sometimes the right show, but the wrong time. Or, I’m definitely a mood watcher.
I found myself being fully invested in the Shancai x Daoming Si ship. Now, I play River by Bishop Briggs on repeat. When I feel melancholic, I hum Say Something by A Great Big World, remembering all the scenes it played in.
Outside of Dylan Wang and Shen Yue, the acting was questionable. At times, the pacing of the dialogue was very weird, and the directing was awkward. But only at times. In particular, only when the F4 (a clique of the four main male characters) were involved.
Shen Yue (Shan Cai) and Dylan Wang (Daoming Si) had a lot of chemistry. The dialogue was hilarious and the timing was great too. It felt natural whenever they were onscreen together, so I guess they must have done a lot of improv.
Can we talk about how this was Dylan Wang’s first television acting experience? It’s difficult to believe. It’s pretty sad that he’s better than a lot of actors in C-Dramas who’ve been acting for years. Besides having a natural take on acting, he has impeccable timing in his non-verbal reactions.
His acting is very natural in The Rational Life on Netflix as well. However, nothing compares to him as Daoming Si. The craziest, snobbiest, baddest, but cutest C-drama character I’ve seen yet.
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Setting: University
Synopsis: MyDramaList
2. The Longest Promise
When I tell you I’ve been waiting to see a GOOD drama starring Xiao Zhan since I saw The Untamed, I’ve been WAITING. In Spring 2021 they started filming The Longest Promise. So, here’s to hoping they’ll release it this year, so I’m not a clown for adding it to my C-Dramas and J-Dramas I plan to watch in 2022.
Let’s hope this doesn’t get delayed like his drama The Oath of Love, but since Ace Troops aired, Xiao Zhan should be fine for now and future dramas should get released. While his acting in The Untamed was incredible, I haven’t seen any of his other work to confirm whether it was just “luck” or skill.
Genre: Wuxia
Setting: Kong Sang Continent
Synopsis: MyDramaList
3. Eternal Love
I loved Dylan Wang in Meteor Garden and The Rational Life, so I’m really looking forward to seeing him in Eternal Love. It’s probably the 5000th drama with the title “Eternal Love” but I’ll watch it since the trailer and synopsis look good.
I feel like Dylan’s character will be the (good) villain in this and I’m thrilled. I hope they don’t make the female lead too dumb, but based on the synopsis, my expectations are low. It would be nice to have more female characters with backbones and more than a few brain cells in C-dramas.
Genre: Xianxia
Setting: Immortal world
Synopsis: MyDramaList
4. Till The End of The Moon
Currently, Bai Lu and Leo Lunxi are one of my favourite acting duos. Leo’s performance in Love is Sweet changed my perception of him. I hated his character in Ashes of Love, I didn’t want to watch any of his subsequent dramas. But, I tried watching Love is Sweet, and I loved his character, so now I want to see more of his dramas.Â
I had never heard of Bai Lu before watching Love is Sweet. After that, I saw her in One and Only and I liked her performance there too. And now Bai Lu and Leo Lunxi are both in a fantasy drama together. Sign. Me. Up. There’s a lot of hype right now for this drama, but it’s still filming so I don’t know if it’ll come out in 2022. It might air in quarter 1 of 2023. We shall see!
This better have a happy ending. Or, I’m in for a world of pain, because I’m watching this no matter what.
Genre: Xianxia
Setting: Mortal and Immortal world
Synopsis: ChineseDrama.Info
5. First Love Hatsukoi
After watching An Incurable Case of Love, I’m ready for another Takeru Satoh drama. I enjoyed him in Rurouni Kenshin too, but I need a lighthearted rom-com. Even though I’m still confused by the synopsis of First Love Hatsukoi, I’m happy that it’s launching on Netflix this year.
Oddly enough, First Love Hatsukoi still doesn’t have a trailer, and neither does it have an official press release or set pictures. The whole show is like a total mystery, so I wonder when we’ll hear anything about it.
All we know is that this drama is inspired by Hikaru Utada’s song “First Love” (1999). Yeah, the iconic singer Hikaru Utada. I’ve played Apple & Cinnamon aggressively on repeat for years now.
Genre: Romance
Setting: Japan
Synopsis: MyDramaList
6. Immortal Samsara
Let’s talk about another xianxia drama on my list of C-Dramas and J-Dramas I plan to watch in 2022 since I can’t stop watching them. Especially if they star actors from past shows I’ve been obsessed with. Enter, Yang Zi and Cheng Yi. This will be the second Cheng Yi drama I’ve watched.
As mentioned in my Favourite Dramas of 2022 post, I loved his character Si Feng in Love & Redemption. I can’t wait to see him in more xianxia dramas. As for Yang Zi, I first watched her in Ashes of Love, which propelled her to fame.
I’ve also seen her in one of my all-time favourite romantic comedies of all time, Go Go Squid. So, we got two actors in shows I’ve previously added to my all-time favourite lists in a show together. Bet.
Genre: Xianxia
Setting: Immortal world
Synopsis: MyDramaList
7. She and Her Perfect Husband
Yang Mi in a modern drama? Sign me up. I’ve seen her in quite a few dramas, including 10 Miles of Peach Blossoms and Novoland: Pearl Eclipse. I’ve also seen some of her contemporary movies and dramas, which personally, I’ve never enjoyed. So, crossing my fingers for this one.
A downside to this show, which is why it’s lower on my list, is I really don’t want to watch another drama with Xu Kai. Good for him that he’s booked and busy, but he’s in so many dramas each year that I’ve decided to boycott watching him.
His acting is nothing to rave about, and he’s insanely over-hyped. Don’t get me wrong, I was first introduced to his acting in Story of Yanxi Palace, and I really loved his character in it. But after that, I’ve seen stale performances from him in most of the dramas I’ve seen him in.
I don’t expect too much from this drama with him in it, but who knows? Maybe I’ll see him differently.
Genre: Romance
Setting: Modern day
Synopsis: MyDramaList
8. The Oath of Love
This is low on my list of anticipated dramas because it will probably never be released. In 2021, a theme song and multiple trailers were released, as well as an official release date for the show. A DAY before it aired, it was “delayed/cancelled” for political reasons.
I was looking forward to watching Xiao Zhan in a drama after The Untamed. Plus, he’s paired with Yang Zi, an actor I’ve enjoyed in the past.
So, let’s hope a miracle happens and this show is released. And I didn’t add this to my C-Dramas and J-Dramas I plan to watch in 2022 in vain.
Genre: Romance
Setting: Modern day
Synopsis: MyDramaList
9. Imperial Cuisine
What? Did I say I don’t like watching dramas with Xu Kai in them? Well, he’s ALSO in this one, because he’s booked and busy and in literally every drama. I don’t understand why people love him so much, but Imperial Cuisine’s plot sounds amazing and I love the female lead actor, Wu Jin Yan so I’m still gonna watch it.
Wu Jin Yan played Consort Ling in Story of Yanxi Palace, one of my favourite female characters ever. The female character in that story is the perfect example of how to write an excellent, smart, well-rounded female character who still has feminine charm without being dumb.
Anyway, let’s get back to Imperial Cuisine. The costumes in this show also just scream expensive. The gold tones are so rich. This show is worth watching just for the costumes and cinematography alone.
Also, I’m excited about the food aspect of this show. The last show I watched with food as a major theme was Dating in the Kitchen, but it was a contemporary drama.
Genre: Historical Romance
Setting: Ming Dynasty
Synopsis: MyDramaList
10. Who Rules The World
The last good Zhao Lusi drama I watched was Dating in the Kitchen, so I’m looking forward to Who Rules the World.
I’m not the biggest fan of Yang Yang’s acting, but he isn’t terrible so it’s not a red flag. I’ve only seen him in contemporary dramas, like Love O2O and You Are My Glory. I hope the writing isn’t cheesy, but from the synopsis, I’m wary. However, it’s rumoured that the main leads will bicker a lot, so that’s an automatic green light for me because I adore good banter.
I also can’t help but sing “Who rules the world? Girls!” whenever I see this drama’s title.
Genre: Wuxia
Setting: Mortal world
Synopsis: MyDramaList
11. Love Never Fails
Love Never Fails reunites Crystal Yuan, who played Chu Xuan Ji (God of War) and Hao Chen, who played Liu Xue Yi (Heavenly Emperor) in Love & Redemption.
Liu Xue Yi’s character Hao Chen wasn’t my cup of tea in Love and Redemption. I wonder if I’ll be able to get past that in Love Never Fails. If anything, I know he’s a decent actor and I know Crystal can act her socks off too.
Genre: Xianxia
Setting: Immortal world
Synopsis: MyDramaList
12. Thank You, Doctor
I’m excited about another Yang Mi drama on my list of C-Drama and J-Dramas I plan to watch in 2022. I love medical dramas, so I’m looking forward to this one.
Genre: Romance
Setting: Hospital
Synopsis: MyDramaList
13. Night Wanderer
I’ve only seen Deng Lun in Ashes of Love and Ni Ni in Love & Destiny, but I really liked their performances in both of their respective dramas. The trailer for this show was released and it looks like a show that’s not exactly up my alley but is worth giving a try.
Genre: Romance, Time Travel
Setting: Shanghai
Synopsis: MyDramaList
In terms of non C-Dramas and J-Dramas I plan to watch in 2022 , I have the following on my list:
- Attack on Titan: Season 4 Finale
- Never Have I Ever: Season 3
- Selling Sunset: Season 4
- Wednesday (directed by Tim Burton)
What dramas or television shows are on your radar this year?
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