The obsession with “Asianovelas” started the moment Meteor Garden premiered on Filipino TV in the early 2000’s. Since then, many have been tuning in to these shows—mostly Korean—because they don’t have a thousand episodes to catch up on.
Now, with the boom of streaming sites, most shows that are highlighted are either American or British. In case you want to start watching Asian shows to widen your horizons a bit, here’s a list for you.
My Husband Won’t Fit
It’s a story about a married couple who’ve been together since college. But as their relationship progresses, they discover a unique problem in their sex life—the title says it all. When you watch this, you will pray and wish that Kenichi and Kumiko solve this so they can stay together.
Romance Is a Bonus Book
This K-drama is perfect for writers who are suckers for cheesy love stories. Romance Is a Bonus Book is about an editor-in-chief who helps out a copywriter to land a job in the publishing industry. And, as expected, their relationship deepens as they spend more time together.
Bangkok Love Stories: Innocence
Bangkok Love Stories features multiple characters in Bangkok’s Silom district. They each have differing personalities and backgrounds, so it’s interesting to see how they build a relationship despite being opposites.
High
High is an action-suspense Filipino series about siblings, played by Ria Atayde and Markus Paterson, that get sucked into an online game. Instead of a fun experience where they can win money and luxuries, they are subjected to challenging tasks that can endanger their lives. Think: Taken with a mobile game almost controlling the characters’ lives.
ThirTEEN Terrors
Horror enthusiast? Consider this Thai TV show. ThirTEEN Terrors is about a group of teens who investigate their school’s dark and mysterious history. What they discovery is more horrifying than they would imagine. Feel free to hide under a blanket while watching this.
Terrace House
This Big Brother-esque Japanese reality show has captured the hearts of many. It has several franchises now set in various locations, from Japan to Hawaii. There may be several episodes per season, but you’d be surprised just how much you’ll be bingeing in a week’s time.
Bagman
If you like shows where the protagonist fights against corrupt government officials, watch Bagman. It stars Arjo Atayde, who plays a barber-turned-hitman for a governor. It’s an action-packed show with socio-political symbolisms.
Art by Marian Hukom
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