Hello! I just finished watching "Time is Just Right With Him," and I really loved it! Although I'm a huge sucker for happy endings and an even bigger fan of the friends to lovers trope, I thought this show was incredibly wholesome and thoughtfully planned as there were few plot holes and many details were consistent throughout the story. Qin Kai's rejection was definitely one of the most raw rejections I've ever watched in dramaland, and it made me tear up a little :')
This show is all things warm and fuzzy, and I know some of you might be going through withdrawals right now as well. I'm hoping my list of recs would also bring you joy or at the very least, solitude lol. Although some of these dramas may have already been recommended by other users, and realistically I should be putting my recs under that tab too, I think it's more cohesive for me to list them out in this format instead. I hope you'll enjoy reading nonetheless!
Here's my list of fluffy, funny, and nostalgic-feeling dramas:
Le Coup de Foudre + Special
- high school tablemates to lovers w/ snippets of the MCs' married life in the first few eps!
- emphasizes family relationships
- university promise x1
- shows how MCs' grow from high schoolers to working adults
- MCs are also involved in developing a wristband + entrepreneurship
Lovely Us
- neighbors/high school friends who develop crushes on each other (and later end up dating)
- focused primarily on MCs' community rather than in their school setting
- each episode has a main idea/lesson to learn from
- depicts awkwardness of youths growing up in the 90's
- show starts and ends when MCs are in high school/around that time
- the director's thoughts & reflections on Weibo add an extra layer of depth
Forever Love
- high school classmates to lovers (the opening scene of ep. 1 is literally a huge spoiler LOL)
- university promise x2
- trifecta of high school, university, and a lil of their professional life
- fueled by friendship
- MCs are also into comp sci and entrepreneurship
To Fly With You
- Wang An Yu!!
- no time jumps as most scenes take place in uni
- definitely more focused on MCs' sports competitions
- the young adult angst is loud in this show and incredibly memorable despite it being the least nostalgic on this list imo
- cute CP pairing, but they bicker often haha
Go Ahead
- childhood neighbors to lovers
- progression from juveniles to 20-something adults
- definitely a show based on family relationships
- more angst + family drama
- mature storytelling and realistic character development
- hands-down my fave cdrama & OSTs ever.
Be Yourself
- female centric w/ focus on their uni/love life
- story starts and ends with MCs in uni
- multiple couples w/ varying dynamics
- one MC also deals with entrepreneurship & app production
- one couple has a push-pull relationship similar to Xie Ang x Jiang Yi Mian
- unexpectedly deep and profound arcs that influence character development
Our Secret + Extras
- high school table mates/neighbors to lovers
- story takes place in both hs and uni
- FML also has to retake the gaokao
- uni promise, yes, in this show too! x3
- lots of cute moments and scenes of the MCs & their friends
Where the Lost Ones Go
- uni students to lovers who meet again as grown adults
- large focus on MCs' memories togethers in uni
- unique storytelling (focus on the use of light and shadows in the cinematography!!)
- probably the most mature show w/ heavier themes on this list
- it's a beautiful story that words cannot fully express, and I often think about it years after watching it.
Honorable Mention:
Wait, My Youth
- Li Jia Qi x Zhao Yi Qin CP
- hs classmates to lovers
- hs to uni to work life story progression
- similar, wholesome friendship, youth, and romance themes
- lackluster character development and plot compared to other shows on my list :(
That's all the recs I have for now! Whether you found a new show to watch or you've decided to rewatch your favorite fluffy youth/romance drama, let's remember and cherish the happiness that "Time is Just Right With Him" brought us for a long time.
Thank you for reading, and happy watching!
