2022 Drama Rankings

2022 turned out to be a slow year for c-dramas, where a lot of content was delayed due to a weak Chinese economy and delays due to the pandemic and/or important political events. Unsurprisingly, there was a strong pipeline of propaganda dramas, many of which ended up being decent watches. Draw the Line was the one I enjoyed most. It is also a year where there were some really enjoyable short dramas like A Familiar Stranger and the chesty Maid's Revenge. It is also a year of unexpected gems such as Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty and The Blood of Youth that blew many of the higher budget and higher profile dramas out of the water.

Even though 1H 2022 was been a bit of a slow for c-dramas, the ones that aired were of good quality, generally avoiding tired tropes. I am quite surprised that I have been able to rate so many dramas 9+ in 1H.

In 2H2022, drama airings slowed considerably after the big S/S+ dramas finished their run. The weak Chinese economy and the CCP meetings in 4Q led to little more than a slew of patriotic dramas. December saw some decent new dramas to finish the year including the surprise hit The Blood of Youth.

PeachBlossomGoddess Jul 20, 2022

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1. The Wind Blows from Longxi

Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes

9.5

Who will spy on the spies?
An intricate ancient spy thriller that rewards the patient viewer.
2. Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty

Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes

9.0

The Making of a Di-tective.
Must watch sleeper ancient suspense hit of 2022.
3. The Blood of Youth

Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes

9.0

Sword in hand, righteous in heart. 手中握剑, 心中有义.
Best wuxia of 2022.
4. Ordinary Greatness

Chinese Drama - 2022, 38 episodes

9.0

The sum of ordinary is great.
A hilarious slice of life police procedural.
5. A Dream of Splendor

Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes

9.0

Love is a many splendored thing.
An stunning grown up romance with strong empowerment themes.
6. Love Like the Galaxy: Part 2

Chinese Drama - 2022, 29 episodes

9.0

Birds of a feather.
A love story for the ages.
7. Love Like the Galaxy: Part 1

Chinese Drama - 2022, 27 episodes

8.5

Mother most foul.
Part 1 is a slow burn period family drama that sets up a romance that blossoms in Part 2.
8. Homesick

Chinese Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

8.5

Gone Girl.
Best suspense thriller since The Bad Kids.
9. Side Story of Fox Volant

Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes

8.5

You can't bring a sword to a gun fight.
A classic Jin Yong wuxia with amazing combat scenes.
10. The Heart of Genius

Chinese Drama - 2022, 34 episodes

8.5

Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.
An inspiring parallel universe story with amazing kid actors.
11. New Life Begins

Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes

8.5

Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.
A very funny comedy about sisterhood and feudal society.
12. The Blue Whisper: Part 1

Chinese Drama - 2022, 22 episodes

8.5

The truth will make them free.
A beautiful but angsty xianxia.
13. Who Rules the World

Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes

8.0

The Plagiarist Cookbook
Tropey but very funny and romantic.
14. Draw the Line

Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes

8.0

Justice is blind and not heartless.
An eye opening drama about Chinese grassroots courts.
15. Heroes

Chinese Drama - 2022, 38 episodes

8.0

We don't need another hero.
A dark wuxia.
16. Under the Skin

Chinese Drama - 2022, 20 episodes

8.0

The mind's eye.
A unique forensic art police procedural.
17. Day Breaker

Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes

8.0

The Dark Path.
A fast paced and intense narcotics cop thriller.
18. The Autumn Ballad

Chinese Drama - 2022, 34 episodes

8.0

Fresh twists on old cliches.
Another fresh romance that does not finish as strongly as it starts.
19. The Examination for Everyone

Chinese Drama - 2022, 22 episodes

7.5

When it rains, it pours.
An inspiring youth themed tribute drama.
20. Left Right

Chinese Drama - 2022, 34 episodes

7.5

Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned.
Dogs blood family melodrama.
21. Love in Time

Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes

7.5

A wrinkle in time.
A sweet romance with a time twist.
22. My Sassy Princess

Chinese Drama - 2022, 22 episodes

7.5

Pour some sugar on me.
A great treadmill romance that shouldn't be too closely scrutinized.
23. The Lady in Butcher's House

Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes

7.5

The meek shall inherit the earth.
A delightful and lighthearted watch.
24. Checkmate

Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes

7.0

All style no substance.
A Republican period adaptation of Hercule Poirot's cases set in Harbin.
25. Unchained Love

Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes

6.5

Missing parts.
Only worth watching for Wang Hedi.