I posted my blogpost for my Top Korean Dramas from the first half of 2023 last week and NOW IT IS TIME FOR MY OTHER LIST! If you have not read my list of Top Korean dramas from the first half of 2023, you can read that here. I am still supporting the strikes against certain streaming sites but I don't think any of the dramas I am going to mention in this post are on those streaming sites. I always realize while making this specific list (non-korean dramas) that I still watch SO MANY MORE KOREAN DRAMAS! I always strive to watch more dramas from other countries EVERY YEAR! 😂 It was very easy to make this list because I pretty much grabbed every drama from other countries that I completed in 2023 so far.
This list might change by the end of 2023 but it also might not, WE WILL SEE! This list also is are the dramas that I completed in the first half of 2023 (January to June) so it does not just mean these dramas had to premiere and air in 2023. It will also not include any dramas I have completed in the month of July because this month is in the 2nd half of 2023. These dramas are in no particular order EXCEPT the first drama because it is easily my favorite Non-Korean drama that I have watched in 2023.
ALRIGHT HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE DRAMAS I HAVE WATCHED IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2023!
Country: China
Episodes: 40 (VIKI)
I don't think is surprising to anyone because I am sure this is a favorite cdrama of 2023 so far for a lot of people. I will forever be grateful to Daebak K-Rambles Podcast and Tea and Soju Podcast to making me binge this in order to do an episode together. GO CHECK OUT THE EPISODE AND THESE PODCASTS! They are fantastic. If you want to read my review of this drama on my blog, here it is. This cdrama has become one of my favorite Xianxia dramas I have ever watched. The story was beautiful. I was invested and cared about the characters. THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THESE TWO LEADS WAS EVERYTHING AND 🔥🔥🔥!! Everything was TOP-NOTCH with this drama between costumes, CGI, story and The OSTs. There is just much I love about this drama even if it made me cry so many times. If you have not watched this cdrama yet, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!! I doubt anything in 2023 will beat this drama for me so, I anticipate it to top my end of 2023 list as well.
Country: Thailand
Episodes: 15 (YouTube)
I brought this drama over from 2022 to finish it up. I honestly don't remember what made me click play on this drama in 2022 but I am glad I did. It is only my second lakorn I have ever watched so it had a lot to live up too. You can read my review of this lakorn here on my blog. I was pleasantly surprised by this drama. You got a mix of every genre in this one. Everything from mystery/crime to comedy and romance. I remember thinking the gay storyline was not needed because it really didn't make a big difference to the drama. I ADORED both couples in this drama and was rooting for them the entire time. I will say I did like one couple over the other. I also didn't agree with some of things the male lead did to the female lead, especially at the start of the drama. I liked that there was no love triangle that was refreshing. I loved the brothers together and their bond. True to what lakorns are, there are a lot of horrible people in this one as well. If you are a fan of crazy lakorns, you should check this one out because it gets pretty dramatic and crazy.
Country: Thailand
Episodes:12 (iQIYI)
I might be VERY bias with Between Us. These two were my favorite couple in Until We Meet Again so, OF COURSE, I would love Between Us. This couple will always be special to me and I loved their continued story in Between Us. I mean we had a to wait A LONG TIME for this one and it did not disappoint. Some of the comedy did not work for me but a lot of the times Thai comedy does not work for me so, I was not surprised by this. I loved how supportive the main couple was for each other and how they helped each other out. This drama just made me smile and I loved revisiting this couple and universe after waiting so long for this drama to be released.
Country: Thailand
Episodes: 10 (YouTube)
I am so surprised that I have watched so many Thai dramas so far in 2023 and that multiple Thai dramas are some of my favorites of the first half of 2023. I started Midnight Museum because I LOVE Tor and I was so happy to see him part of this cast. This drama also had such a unique synopsis. I had a lot of fun with this Thai drama. You can check out my review for this drama here. I honestly wish I had saved it to binge it instead of having to wait for an episode every week. IT WAS AGONY! I loved the fantasy elements in the drama. Tor and Gun's chemistry was AMAZING in this drama. I hope they do another drama together. I hope this drama get a second season because the ending sure pointed to a second season. I also might just want Tor and Gun in another drama together. I also think the ending was a little rushed and confusing so a second season would clear some of that up (maybe). I still enjoyed this drama SO MUCH! It was just so unique and nothing like anything I was watching at the time or that I had seen in Thai dramaland before.
Country: China
Episodes: Part 1 - 27 and Part 2 - 29 (VIKI)
I should have watched this drama much sooner than I did and I also should have finished it much sooner. This was another drama I brought over from 2022 into 2023 because I was still watching it and THEN it took me FAR TO LONG TO FINISH IT! I am grouping both parts together into this blogpost but I definitely liked Part 2 more than Part 1. Part 1 had comedy which didn't work for me and a lot of the characters made me VERY MAD. Part 2 had less comedy and was a lot darker which is probably why I liked it more. I loved the cinematography, costumes, light and everything in this drama. It had a high production value and it showed. The chemistry between the leads was GREAT and I loved seeing them together. If you are a fan of historical cdramas and have not watched this drama, YOU NEED TOO!
Country: China
Episodes: 48 (VIKI)
This is one of the dramas I carried over from 2022 and I FINALLY FINISHED IT IN 2023!! I should have watched it sooner and finished sooner. 😂 Here is my LONG OVERDUE blog review of the drama. People have been YELLING at me to watch this drama I am sorry it took me so long to watch and complete it. I now know why you guys were telling me to watch this cdrama. This drama is VISUALLY stunning. There is just so much to look at. The cinematography, lighting, costumes even music is just PERFECT! The acting is awesome. The fight/actions scenes are some of the best I have seen. You do have to pay close attention to everything going on because there are a lot of characters and lots of threads to keep track of. We are also getting a Season 2 which I am glad I finally finished Season 1 to watch Season 2 coming up. I hope Season 2 is just as good. If someone asks me for cdrama recommendations, this one will definitely be one I suggest.
Country: China
Episodes: 15 (iQIYI)
This is sort of a shoutout to this drama. It probably won't remain on my favorite Non-Korean Dramas by the end of 2023. The reason why this drama is here now though is because I was SO SURPRISED by this drama. It was better than I expected it to be. You can definitely tell it is a lower budget cdrama and it also is a webdrama. I actually wanted this drama to be a full-fledged drama because I enjoyed it so much. Normally I don't usually like the light and fluffy dramas but this drama was entertaining. It had good acting. The main couple had great chemistry. I will say the dubbing isn't the greatest and it did bother me but I just wanted to mention this one if anyone is looking for a quick and fluffy romance to watch. I heard this is based off of a Chinese movie which I have not seen.
And there you have it - my list for my TOP NON-KOREAN DRAMAS FROM THE FIRST HALF OF 2023! I know you are probably surprised that some dramas aren't on my list. I probably haven't watched them yet. If you want me to watch a favorite of yours, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOUR FAVORITES OF 2023 HAVE BEEN! The good news that it looks like the second half of 2023 is going to be heavy with Non-Korean dramas so, we will see how this list changes up by the end of 2023.
What were some your favorite Non-Korean dramas of the first half of 2023?
Did some of your favorite Non-Korean dramas make my list?
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