From e-sports competitions to high fantasy romances, it’s no doubt that our 2021 adventure into þthe realm of Chinese dramas has been an exhilarating one!
For this drama rec list, we’ll be giving you the year’s best. As voted by the internet community at large, here is My Drama List’s highest-rated C-dramas of 2021:
10. The Day of Becoming You (变成你的那一天)
Ever wanted to watch a bodyswap drama? Then this hilarious romance is the one for you! The Day of Becoming You follows the lives of Jiang Yi, a popular boy band leader, and Yu Shengsheng an entertainment reporter, as they are both forced into outrageous situations after switching their bodies on their shared birthday. Although the change catches them off-guard, they soon turn to one another for support and fall in love.
Episode Count: 26
Cast: Zhang Xincheng, Liang Jie
Rating: 8.5/10
Where to Watch: iQIYI
9. My Little Happiness (我的小确幸)
Based on the novel You Are My Little Luck by Dong Ben Xi Gu, this romantic series serves up all the fluff with a childhood friends-to-lovers plot that will leave you squealing for more. When Cong Rong successfully deceives her mother into thinking that she had gone abroad to study finance, she secretly returns home to pursue her dreams of becoming a lawyer. However, upon taking her first case, Cong Rong reunites with Wen Shaoqing, her childhood friend who is now not only a surgeon but also her neighbor and landlord!
Episode Count: 28
Cast: Xing Fei, Tang Xiaotian
Rating: 8.6/10
Where to Watch: WeTV
8. Our Secret (暗格里的秘密)
No year-end rec list is complete without an obligatory school drama! Adapted from the novel of the same name by Er Dong Tu Zi, this sweet drama depicts a romance that has been nurtured from high school to university, becoming a youthful love that lasts for a lifetime. To put it simply, this is the story of a headstrong girl who meets a mathematical genius — a story of becoming lifelong companions in this journey called life.
Episode Count: 24
Cast: Chen Zheyuan, Xu Mengjie
Rating: 8.6/10
Where to Watch: Mango TV
7. Word of Honor (山河令)
As one of the most popular dangai (read: Boys’ Love) series in 2021, it’s no surprise that Word of Honor has wildly attracted fans from all over the world! Inspired by the novel Faraway Wanderers by Priest, this wuxia drama follows Zhou Zishu, the former leader of an assassination organization, and Wen Kexing, the vengeful ruler of the Ghost Valley. Entangled in a 20-year plot filled with conspiracy, the two find their destinies intertwined and redeem each other as soulmates who together wander the jianghu — the martial arts world.
Episode Count: 36
Cast: Zhang Zhehan, Gong Jun
Rating: 8.6/10
Where to Watch: Netflix, Youku, YouTube (Youku)
6. Ancient Love Poetry (千古玦尘)
With a tale spanning over 60,000 years, Ancient Love Poetry is a high fantasy drama that takes angst and longing to new heights! Shang Gu, the head of the four real immortals of the ancient world, sacrifices herself in a trial and falls into a deep sleep. Although she returns 60,000 years later, she no longer remembers her previous identity and instead lives as Hou Chi, the high immortal of Qingchi Palace. Because of this, she has no memory of her former lover Bai Jue, who had gathered the scattered remnants of her soul at the cost of his own reincarnation.
Episode Count: 49
Cast: Zhou Dongyu, Xu Kai
Rating: 8.6/10
Where to Watch: WeTV
5. You Are My Hero (你是我的城池营垒)
You Are My Hero is hailed as one of 2021’s truest gems for a reason! Featuring a heartwarming romance with a dash of military action and a pinch of medical drama, the series details the story of rookie resident Mi Ka and special ops agent Xing Kelei. When Mi Ka volunteers to take part in an emergency rescue training exercise between the hospital and the police SWAT team, she unwittingly finds herself working in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake. It is there where she meets Xing Kelei, who unbeknownst to her, is the captain who had once saved her life.
Episode Count: 40
Cast: Ma Sichun, Bai Jingting
Rating: 8.7/10
Where to Watch: YouTube (Croton MEGA HIT)
4. The Long Ballad (长歌行)
We can’t continue this list without adding The Long Ballad! Adapted from a manhua of the same title, this historical epic depicts the life of Li Changge, a former princess of the Tang dynasty who fakes her death after her father — the crown prince — is killed due to court politics. In her bid to seek revenge against her family’s murderer, destiny brings her to cross paths with Ashile Sun, a proud general of the Eastern Turkic tribes.
Episode Count: 49
Cast: Dilraba Dilmurat, Leo Wu
Rating: 8.7/10
Where to Watch: Viki Rakuten
3. Falling Into Your Smile (你微笑时很美)
C-dramas have long been a frontrunner in the e-sports genre, and Falling Into Your Smile definitely proves it. In the highly competitive world of e-sports, amateur gamer Tong Yao manages to bag a spot as the first official female player in China’s professional gaming league, catching the attention of team captain Lu Sicheng. Although Sicheng is initially dismissive of her skills, Tong Yao persists in her efforts to be accepted by her newfound team.
Episode Count: 31
Cast: Cheng Xiao, Xu Kai
Rating: 8.7/10
2. One and Only (周生如故)
Taking the second-best spot on our list is One and Only, a historical series based on the novel One Life, One Incarnation: Beautiful Bones by Mo Bao Fei Bao. Perfect for those who love the political intrigue of the imperial court, the drama tells the story of Zhou Shengchen, a battle-hardened general who accepts the mute and sheltered noblewoman Cui Shiyi as his disciple in order to protect her from the animosity of the royal family. Despite their differences and responsibilities, they find themselves growing closer to one another as they face together the ongoing power struggles of the palace.
Episode Count: 24
Cast: Ren Jialun, Bai Lu
Rating: 8.7/10
Where to Watch: WeTV
1. You Are My Glory (你是我的荣耀)
That’s right! The best-rated Chinese drama of the year is none other than the light-hearted e-sports drama You Are My Glory. Brimming bright with diabetic fluff and adorable chemistry, the series follows the story of Yu Tu, an aerospace engineer who finds himself doubtful of his career, and Qiao Jingjing, a former classmate-turned-celebrity and brand endorser of the popular mobile game Honor of Kings.
When Yu Tu accidentally invites Qiao Jingjing into a team match with his friends, Jingjing takes the opportunity to recruit him as a gaming coach for her upcoming televised match. Spending their free time together for practice, the two slowly but surely fall in love.
Episode Count: 32
Cast: Dilraba Dilmurat, Yang Yang
Rating: 8.8/10
Where to Watch: WeTV
