When the season of love comes calling, we can never go wrong with indulging in a good rom-com.
The world is vast and the romantic comedies across them are just as diverse. We’ve already looked at dystopian Hollywood romances to the tender proposals spanning Indian cinema – so how could we leave out the solid romances offered up within the rest of Asia?
From the proven charm of Korean and Chinese dramas to the hidden rom-com gems of Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan, take your pick of these six Asian romantic comedy series to watch this Valentine’s Day.
Extraordinary You
Starring Kim Hye Yoon, Rowoon, Kim Young Dae, and Lee Jae Wook 2019 South Korean romcom Extraordinary You makes for a charming love story within a quirky setting.
Following Eun Dan Oh (Kim Hye Yoon), a high schooler who discovers she’s only an extra – destined to die – in a comic book, the whimsical series explores her persistent attempts to rewrite her story and find true love.
Striking a perfect balance between storytelling depth and feel-good vibes, Extraordinary You makes for an imaginative yet light-hearted watch.
My Boss
If you love a good enemies-to-lovers arc, Chinese romantic comedy drama My Boss might be just the right pick for you.
Starring Chen Xingxu as law firm founder Qian Heng and Zhang Rounan as rookie lawyer Cheng Yao, the 2024 show traces the pair’s from boss/employee to reluctant roommates, before they slowly began to fall in love.
This light-hearted series with its grumpy boss x spunky employee trope is a sweet little love story to indulge in.
The Day I Loved You
The Day I Loved You (2023) is an intriguing Filipino BL drama with an enemies-to-lovers backdrop.
Rooted in the budding high school romance between Eli, a foreign student, and Nikko, the series manages to balance lightness with complexity as it dives into coming-of-age relationships and love triangles.
Starring Tommy Alejandrino, Raynold Tan, and Rabin Angeles, this series manages to hook you with its intricate blend of cute whimsy and genuine emotions.
Fight Song
Japanese romcom Fight Song ponders the saying “never meet your heroes” is a light-hearted romance with heartfelt edge.
With an interesting premise following down-on-her-luck Kisara Hanae (Kiyohara Kaya) who meets Ashida Haruki (Mamiya Shotaro), a songwriter she always idolised only to realise he’s an eccentric, one-hit-wonder, the 2022 drama is alluring as it sets up a story about characters who have much more to them than meets the eye.
46 Days
Thai rom-com series 46 Days delivers the perfect blend of campy humour and heartwarming romance.
Starring Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul (Baifern), Chanon Santinatornkul (Nonkul), Jumpol Adulkittiporn (Off) and Lapassalan Jiravechsoontornkul (Mild), the series is rooted in great chemistry between the characters and a quirky premise.
When Ying Ying’s (Baifern) best friend Noina breaks up with her fiance, her attempt to comfort her with a fortuneteller backfires, when Noina rediscovers her high school Doctor Korn (Nonkul) who is about to get married in 46 day. The story follows Ying Ying’s mission to stop the wedding to bring Korn and Noina close.
Well-paced and engaging, give this series a shot if you enjoy a bit of chaos in your romantic storylines.
Nation’s Brother
This 2021 Vietnamese BL series makes for a feel-good, endearing watching experience.
Following the story of businessman Minh Ahn (Nguyen Ba Vinh) and his encounter with student named Duy Tâm ( Tuan Viet), we’ve drawn into a story of a drunken night of passion followed by relentless romantic pursuits.
Fleshing out real, relatable characters in just six episodes with a heartwarming narrative and earnest acting performances, this series proves the potential that Vietnam BL holds.
[All Images via MDL/IMDb]
Which of these Asian rom-coms are you most drawn to? We’d love to know! Visit Lyrical Muse for more film and TV stories.
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