Chinese Vertical F/M Romance (rated by Zii3)

Vertically filmed micro series (often compiled into one "movie" on YouTube). I'm giving them their own list so I can grade them on their own sliding scale. The things that will attract some viewers might repel others. It's like a "guilty pleasure" category. I prefer the stories that focus more on the interactions of the lead couple and less on melodramatic plot elements.

These can be rather addictive, and there are quite a few lead actors and actresses who are very good and fun to watch! Unlike longer and bigger productions, many actors and actresses in vertical dramas collaborate on multiple projects together. I really enjoy getting to watch actors who have built a good rapport interact as different characters in multiple scenarios together. It can certainly help with chemistry in shows.

Vertical dramas are good when in the mood for quick stories that don't require much thoughts, have sizzle or sweet romance or both, recycle tropes, often flirt with taboos, and either have healthy relationships or a range of unbalanced-leaning power dynamics between couples. I am able to separate fantasy from reality and enjoy some "unhealthy love" stories, though I do want the characters to be redeemable, at least by the end. I do like the forced-seduction trope, emphasis on seduction (as long as some desire/pleasure is shown through the reluctantance), however, I find romanticizing or making light of 100% non-consentual rape psychologically and morally troublesome, and any of that in a show will severely lower my rating. 

If something is rated around a 4/10, it often means that it left me feeling frustrated, irritated, vexed, etc.

FYI, vertical dramas often have lower production values (background music is an area noticeably effected by budget), and good English subtitles can sometimes be tough to find, but I appreciate that they are there at all.