Although New Life Begins is more light-hearted, both dramas shine a light on the hardships and prejudice women in Ancient China are confronted with.

They take the audience on an enlightening and inspiring journey as these women fight against the patriarchal society to flourish both in business and marriage. We're shown not only the bad marriages but also the good ones, where husband and wife can work together to achieve gender equality, harmony and prosperity.

Both have very righteous and action-oriented male protagonists who punish criminals using unconventional means while protecting those who they hold dear.

There's also a wholesome team supporting them from behind.

Both have strong, independent and career-oriented FL who fell out with their dreadful ex. Then come along our younger ML who's caring and smitten with the FL.

The perfect noona romances that you can't help but swoon for.

Both have a bittersweet romance between master and disciple.

Both MLs also made a vow to stay unmarried for life but their resolve got shaken when they meet the FL.

Both feature swoon-worth Joseon romance between a "prince" and a palace official, strong female lead and beautiful aesthetics. We also get some gripping palace politics going on.

+ Diabetes-worthy sugar level
+ Contract marriage
+ Cute chemistry
+ Addictive OSTs
+ Great aesthetics

Both of these shows just seem to tick all the rom-com boxes for me. They're not necessarily the best shows in town but definitely the best mood boosters when you're in dire need of one!

Both dramas center around a lovable antihero that just happens to get caught on the wrong side for them... well in this case it's the righteous side.

What ensues is a series of thrilling and gratifying rescue missions that leaves you on edge begging for more. We also get to experience the quirky yet slick comedy, be it dark or satirical. And last but not least is the undeniably strong chemistry between the main leads, delivered in partners-in-crime style by the mastermind screenwriter Park Jae Bum himself.

From the absurd office politics to the hilarious bromance rivalry, these 2 dramas offer great comic relief in the time of need and insightful life lessons when you least expect.

Park Hae Jin (Yeol Chan) and Nam Goong Min (Sung Ryong) play the questionable protagonists that you find shady yet can't help vouching for.

Kim Eung Soo (Man SiK) and Lee Junho (Seo Yool) are your former-villain-now-besties, desperately searching for a second chance at love... oops... bromance.

If you ask for comedy, here it is. If you ask for b-romance, what are you waiting for? If you ask for chemistry, these will teach you the whole periodic table. If you want all of these in one, then quickly dive in.

Both deliver:
+ Perfect chemistry
+ Hilarious rom-com
+ Adorkable side couple
+ Fashionable styling
+ And not to forget the side bromance

The lone wolves that cry out in silence. Both shows that being a prince has got to be the loneliest position in the world with them being back and forth stabbed. Until the female lead comes along to brighten up their days of misery.

However, rather just damsel-in-distress tales where all things seem to turn right, the characters actually have to overcome plenty of hardships and all events happen for a good reason too.

It's the same story being retold over and over again and yet we're still interested.

Although both focus on the classic trope of star-crossed love, they explore it in slightly different perspectives. Iljimae is a journey of developing one's identity whereas 100 Days My Prince is about finding the identity and happiness that have been lost.

Ultimately, it is still the settings of the historical periods and grace of the plot that really draw the 2 dramas close.

Both have bittersweet love that starts off during childhood. They would heart-wrenchingly be forced to part and then reunited by fate.

The child actors are extremely good at starting off the drama and really draw you in right from the beginning.

They also have the charm that old historical dramas seem to have in terms of visuals and not being overly 'modern' and 'crisp'.

There seems to be a good balance between romance and politics as well.