I posted my blogpost for my Top Korean Dramas from the first half of 2024 a couples of weeks ago 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 2024, you can read that here (or go listen to the podcast as an option). I know I stated in my Top Korean Dramas of the first half of 2024 blogpost/podcast episode that this list was going to be interesting. I had a mixed bag when it came to my Kdramas from the first half of 2024 where I said a lot of the Kdramas I loved aired really early in 2024 and then in the last few months, there hasn't been a lot of Kdramas that stood out for me to make the list. I still think I made a fairly good list, but I know that list will probably be very different by the end of 2024. This list will be all over the place as well.
Due to the fact that I just did a TON more rewatches of other country's dramas in the first half of 2024, I thought I couldn't do this without mentioning the rewatches like I could with Kdramas list. Currently it is almost the end of July as I am typing this, and I already know this list for the end of 2024 will not need the rewatches included unless I just dislike a ton of the Non-Korean Dramas I watch in the second half of 2024. I ultimately decided to not include the rewatches in the list, but I did mention them at the end of the blogpost. This will just be a shorter list. There are podcast episodes out for these rewatched dramas whether it is for my own podcast or me as a guest on another podcast so, you can go and listen to my review of them there. I MIGHT even have included some of these rewatches on other "TOP" drama lists from prior years depending on when they were released. Due to the fact that I almost used rewatches on this list for the first half of 2024, just shows that there were definitely non-Korean dramas I should have dropped and never completed so, I can't put them on this list to recommend them to you because I did not like them myself. I already know this list will be completely different by the end of the year. I might not even include some of the dramas on this list by the end either.
This is just a list of non-Korean dramas I liked and would recommend watching if you have not seen them yet. This list will change by the end of 2024. This list is the non-Korean dramas that I completed in the first half of 2024 (January to June), so it does not just mean these non-Korean dramas had to premiere and/or air in 2024. It will also not include any non-Korean dramas I have completed this month (July) because this month is in the 2nd half of 2024. As I explained in the Kdramas podcast episode, the only country I watch dramas as they air are Kdramas so, I usually wait for all the other dramas to complete before I click play on them. This causes me to usually watch a ton of the completed non-Korean dramas int eh second half of the year. I also just a lot more Kdramas in general due to the fact I watch them as they air. There are PLENTY of non-Korean dramas that I have yet to get too that might have aired a couple of years ago. if your favorites aren't on this list, probably means I have not watched them yet. This list is also in NO PARTICULAR ORDER and NOT RANKED!
ALRIGHT HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE NON-KOREAN DRAMAS I HAVE WATCHED IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2024!
COUNTRY: Japan/USA
EPISODES: 10 (HULU)
This is DEFINITELY the best thing I have watched so far in 2024 for non-Korean dramas. I had a few minor issues with this drama but nothing so bad that I could downrate it. That is why it is a 10/10 for me. From the costumes to the set to the acting to EVERYTHING, this was just a joy and an experience to watch. You can tell the drama took a lot of time for research and cared about their production. I was fascinated every week watching this drama. It was just a marvel to watch every week and such a treat. And come to find out it almost never got made just blew my mind. Hollywood needs more of these types of shows. I don't know how I feel about it getting a Season 2 and 3. I hope it keeps up with the fantastic production and quality. We will have to wait and see. This got 25 Emmy nominations (the most of any show this year).
RATING: 10/10
COUNTRY: Japan
EPISODES: 10 (NETFLIX)
I don't know if this a controversial selection to have on this list. I thought this drama was a fun and enjoyable rom-com. I might be a little bias because I have said that Japanese dramas are my favorite country to watch romance dramas from. There might be some bias when it comes to this being on this list. I don't know if it will be on this list still by the end of 2024, we will have to wait and see. It had a unique concept for a story. The leads are cute with LOTS OF CHEMISTRY! I definitely did not like the trope of noble idiocy at the end because it was not needed. I loved the message that the audience got from it at the end. I know other people criticized the female lead and her actions in this drama. How reserved she was. I did not have a problem with her as much as other people did. I know other people did not like that the drama did not sub his Korean thoughts. I did not mind this because I think it added something extra to the drama and made the female lead more relatable. These are my own opinions so others can disagree with me, of course.
RATING: 9/10
COUNTRY: Taiwan
EPISODES: 8 (NETFLIX)
I feel bad that it took me this long to watch and finish Season 1 of this drama. IT WAS AMAZING! I can now see why so many people told me to watch this drama. It has a VERY TALENTED cast. I mean I know I have said this before but everyone who was anyone in Tdramaland is IN THIS DRAMA! It has a little bit of everything: romance, mystery, crime, relationships and found family. It was unpredictable and you don't know who to trust. I still have no idea why this drama was split into 3 seasons. I really need to get my act together and watch the other 2 seasons already.
RATINGS: 9/10
COUNTRY: China
EPISODES: 12 (IQIYI)
THIS IS A FANTASTIC CRIME DRAMA! I can't believe it has taken me this long to watch it. I should have watched it in 2020 when it came out. I really can't tell you why I didn't. Some of Bai Yu's best acting is in the drama in my opinion. The entire cast did a great job and stood out for their acting too. This drama was really unpredictable but in a good way. It was hard to follow at times but that was mostly due to the story structure. The drama had 3 timeless and was jumping between all of them. This crime drama was entertaining, but I will warn you it is heartbreaking to watch. You will get mad at characters and want to through things out of frustration for the characters. Especially, if you get as invested in dramas as I do. There is a Korean remake supposedly coming out some time this year so, I am curious to check that. Maybe I will do a future VERSUS episode on both of the versions.
RATING: 9/10
COUNTRY: China
EPISODES: 25 (AMAZON PRIME)
If you are a watcher of those short web-cdramas, you should check Provoke out. The leads have some SIZZLING chemistry. For how short the episodes and drama were, the story was engaging where you root for the leads to get their revenge. This is one of the cases where I WISH the drama was a full length cdrama. I wanted to see more revenge and for the drama to have more time for romance.
RATING: 8.5/10
COUNTRY: Japan
JAPANESE MOVIE: 1 hr. 54 min. (YOUTUBE)
I was SO HAPPY that I finally got access to this movie even though the quality of the video wasn't the best it could be. I still got the gist of the movie and enjoyed it. I did like the anime more than the movie but just slightly more. I did like aspects of the movie more than the anime and vice versa. I thought the movie was casted well. I thought the leads had great chemistry together. The CGI was fantastic. I liked how the film portrayed the powers and fantasy parts of the story. Even though the ending was completely different from the anime, I think it was still good and fit the film. I could have used some more scenes with the main couple but that is probably because I loved them so much. The movie did seem a bit rushed near the end but there is only so much you can put into a 2-hour movie. I definitely need a sequel for this movie but mostly because I enjoyed it so much.
I released a VERSUS showdown episode for this movie and anime on the podcast and/or you can read it here.
RATING: 8.5/10
COUNTRY: Japan
EPISODES: 8 (NETFLIX)
If you love action dramas or want to watch a drama about Ninjas, WATCH THIS DRAMA! It has some great action/fighting scenes. I also loved that it isn't just a ninja drama. It is a family drama hidden under the story of ninjas. It does need a Season 2. I say this a lot, but this drama is more than just an action drama and I love when dramas do that. It was not what I expected but in a good way. Also, you can't watch this during the day because there are a lot of dark scenes. It is somewhat predictable with one part of the story but overall, still entertaining and fun. I even did a SPECIAL EPISODE for the podcast to review this drama because I wanted more people to watch this drama. So, you can check that episode out now.
RATING: 8/10
REWATCHES THAT SHOULD BE ON THIS LIST:
And there you have it - my list for my TOP NON-KOREAN DRAMAS FROM THE FIRST HALF OF 2024!
I think this will DEFINITELY change by the end of 2024. I already know of a couple of non-Korean dramas I am currently watching that will probably make this list at the end of year. I also completed multiple non-Korean dramas in the first half of 2024 that in hindsight, I should have just dropped. I need to be more selective and pick better non-Korean dramas to watch in the second half of 2024. I also just need to watch more non-Korean dramas in general in the second half of 2024 which I think will happen because it already is.
What were some your favorite non-Korean dramas of the first half of 2024?
Did some of your favorite non-Korean dramas make my list?
Any recommendations to add to my list to watch in the second half of 2024?
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