2025 Entertainment Year Review

FILMS

My 2025 Entertainment Year saw a decline in the number of series and films I viewed. Partly because I started a new job and had less free time, and partly because I decided to curtail my overachieving, perfectionist tendencies, and say no to the pressure I put on myself to reach some imaginary number.  I allowed myself to DNF if I wasn’t enjoying it and say no to the praised and hyped shows that others seem to love, but didn’t really interest me.

By my very inaccurate count, this year’s total of films and series comes to 153 titles. Because I quit writing my monthly blogs with quick thoughts on everything I watched I wasn’t tracking everything as closely as usual.  Not to mention I didn’t include Hallmark and streaming network film titles (I’m looking at you Netflix). But regardless, I definitely spent less time in front of the television and movie screen this year. I wish I could say the same of my phone screen!

BOOKS

In 2025 I continued the trend I started last year in almost exclusively reading Chinese web novels. I did read one regular novel, A Tartan Love by Nichole Van, a favorite author starting a new series which I enjoyed.

Otherwise, I continued binging the web novels. I still like reading those which have a drama series released or releasing, because I always find it an interesting exercise to compare. But I’ve also branched out into those without. Over time I noticed I am drawn more to the historical stories than modern ones.

My favorite historical novel this year was the romantic drama The Imperial Guard’s Revenge by author September Flowing Fire who has written several popular stories which I really liked including Greetings Ninth Uncle, It’s Better to Be the Empress Dowager and I Became the Stepmother of My Ex-Husband (which I’ve re-read twice now). Close runners-up were Fragrant Tresses in the Clouds which featured a blind heroine and Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam which was a double re-birth story of spouses whose previous life didn’t allow them to explore their love for each other.

When it comes to modern day web novels I loved Delicate Beauty in the Palm which I re-read a couple of times already. Author Tian Cu Yu has become my go-to for modern, angsty romances.

CLASSICS – 50

After years of binging old movies, last year I took a break to dive more into Asian drama. I felt a bit guilty about it. After the decision to take the self-imposed pressure off and just watch what I want, this year I re-watched classics that I really liked and missed, just for the pleasure of it, particularly focusing on films starring Robert Montgomery and Barbara Stanwyck. This was a significant change from last year when I only saw 16 films compared to this year’s total of 50.

I saw three new to me classics which I was really excited about due to their star actors, which ultimately turned out to be disappointing. As a fan of John Gilbert, seeing him in His Glorious Night, and Way for a Sailor caused me a bit of sadness. I still wholeheartedly believe he had the talent, but it was squandered by those casting him in poorly written and directed films. I also feel the brilliant comedienne Marion Davies was wasted in the historical Hearts Divided. But as a completist, I’m still glad I had the opportunity to see their movies.

A highlight of the year was watching Sound of Music on the big screen with my Mom. This is a foundational film inextricably linked to my childhood. I spent countless hours watching this and it has special significance to memories created with my Dad. Having visited Austria in recent years, it was even more of an experience seeing it again with a more firm sense of place. It was all I could do not to sing aloud in the theater.

TV SERIES -42

2025 was one of the best years I’ve had in a while for television series and saw an increase from last year’s total of 34 . There were so many new ones that really captured my interest such as cozy mystery Murder in a Small Town, the dysfunctional sibling dynamic in Good Cop/Bad Cop, the quirky duo of Death Valley and and very few disappointments. Not to mention the continuing seasons of series I’ve been watching for years now. I also had the pleasure to re-watch some old favorites I had not seen in a while such as Christy, The Cafe, Gilmore Girls and even the old Disney production of Five Mile Creek.

Continuing series watched include: Only Murders in the Building, Marlow Murder Mysteries, The Chosen, Good Ship Murder, Madam Blanc Mysteries, Brokenwood Mysteries, Harry Wild, Recipes for Love and Murder, All Creatures Great and Small, Father Brown, Sweet Magnolias, Miss Scarlet, Darby & Joan, Virgin River

FOREIGN FILMS & SERIES –  68

Compared to last year’s final count of 96 series, I am surprised to see this year’s number lowered by a third.  My final count by country is:

Korea –   33
China – 25
Japanese  – 9
Turkey – 1

Continuing past years’ trends, Japan still comes in third in the amount of Asian dramas viewed by me, but broke the mold of past expectations. I was delighted by how many of the Japanese dramas I chose, I actually liked this year. I think it helped that I watched a few re-makes of stories I had already seen produced by other countries such as Marry My Husband, Suspicious Partners and Romantics Anonymous. Or maybe I’m just becoming more simpatico with their story-telling style?

Most of the Korean dramas I saw disappointed me in one way or another aside from the masterpiece that is When Life Gives You Tangerines. But I did my first re-watch of a K-drama this year (Touch Your Heart), which I usually shy away from due to the length of most series and the sheer amount of other dramas I have yet to see.

Overall I still had the most success with Chinese dramas which aren’t quite as quirky as those from Japan or polished and predictable like those from Korea. Most of my favorite series this year were from China.

ON SCREEN

As previously mentioned I had the joy of seeing the Sound of Music in the theater this year. The only other film I cared enough to see on the big screen this year was Downton Abbey: Grand Finale. Though not their best offering, it was a great tribute to long-term fans like me, harkening back to earlier characters and events and bringing everything full circle to a satisfactory conclusion.

FAVORITES

Love’s Ambition (China) – if you’ve been around here any length of time you know my love for actress Zhao Lusi. This last year was a tough one for her with questions swirling about whether she would be able to continue acting. But she came back strong in this modern drama proving she has the acting chops to pull off a complex and mature performance in this story about a couple who carry secrets and married for reasons other than love. It’s nice (and rare) to see a plot that focuses on the breakdown and rebuilding of a relationship after betrayal. Not to mention the male lead had a nice growth arc for a character who didn’t start out very likeable.

Prisoner of Beauty (China) – After reading (several times) and loving the web novel this series was a highly anticipated one for me, even more so due to the question of whether it would ever air due to the lead actress’ tax evasion scandal. (Chinese cancel culture is no joke!). Thankfully, it was well worth the wait. Despite the changes made to bring this arranged marriage, enemies to lovers story to screen, I was able to appreciate it on its’ own merits without the pesky comparisons I usually make to the source novel. There were some little flaws here and there, but the chemistry and performances by the main leads Liu Yuning and Song Zu Er were fantastic. I loved their romance, especially how he became more and more of a puppy dog, henpecked husband and she showed some spunk in standing up for herself, but also her practicality and wisdom. Beautiful costumes and settings as well as a great group bromance rounded this one out to make it very memorable.

Begin Again (China) – Though some detracting new characters and story lines were added in the last third of this series, it still found a special place in my heart. It gave equal time to two potential couples and the development of their relationships. The writers did a good job showing the challenge both couple faced, especially since each relationship had an individual who didn’t live in the same place as their love interest and had jobs that made it difficult for them to be available. Both of them responded maturely and communicated well. But the real selling point of this drama is the setting of Macau which is lovingly and beautifully shown in stunning cinematography and which also shares the history of the city in a way that was seamlessly weaved into the story.

Glass Heart (Japan) – I don’t even have words to describe my love for this drama about a new band coming together to create music using their individual strengths. The music itself really becomes an unspoken main character and is very memorable.  Seeing the process of how it is created and also the power it has to shape and influence the human characters left me breathless. Despite the unnecessarily forced romance, this one will stick with me for a long time.

When Life Gives You Tangerines (Korea)  Many are calling this a masterpiece and I have no doubt it will become a classic in years to come.  It explores generational and relationship dynamics within one family over decades and is a beautiful and realistic depiction. The focus is more on the female relationships, but I was especially moved by the quiet, sacrificial love of its’ patriarch and how he provides the foundation for everyone else to anchor to and build on.

The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call (Korea) – What a way to start the year! Featuring a MacGyver like doctor who is a larger than life character that drags everyone else along with him in his quest to save patients both in and out of the hospital. He is arrogant, demanding, outrageous, heroic and even nicknames his intern, Anus. This show was fast-paced, ridiculous and highly entertaining. Thankfully, it has been renewed for at least two more seasons.

Mr. Plankton (Korea) – This is one of two series I saw this year which explores the meaning of life through the impending death of a main character, Our Movie being the other. And while both are very moving and thought provoking, this one is more memorable to me because I didn’t expect to like it. The plot was unpredictable, the characters and the relationships among them were a bit zany and whimsical. Everything was a bit off-kilter and imperfect and yet somehow came together to tell a story that was perfect in itself.

Death Valley – Set in Wales, this detective series brings together a new Odd Couple, a young female detective with a hidden past trauma and a retired actor whose signature role was a genius television detective. It was fun watching the two learn to work together and become friends and I enjoyed the Welsh setting. I’m eagerly waiting season two!

 

 

Good Cop/Bad Cop – By chance I stumbled upon this lighthearted detective drama about a family who serves as cops in a small town. It’s a unique role for Leighton Meester who plays the strait-laced sister trying to keep her charming, but slightly corrupt sheriff father and socially awkward but genius brother in line. There’s nothing new or exceptional about it, other than it was just very entertaining to watch.

Murder in a Small Town – Though not outstanding, this American cozy mystery had all the ingredients combined in a way that had me binge the whole two seasons. Set in a northwestern town providing lush visuals,  it stars Kristin Kreuk as a chic librarian who turns amateur detective after she hooks up with the new police detective in town.  I like his calm, rational approach to handling the various crisis and though they look like a bit of an odd couple, and are both dealing with their own past 

 

 

Why I Dress Up for Love (Japan) – It’s a miracle! A second Japanese title made my favorites list. There was something both charming and cute about this romance about a fashion influencer and a food truck chef who are part of a group of roommates in a shared house. Their relationship starts out awkwardly before developing into a friendship as she has long been pining for her former boss. These opposites are awkward and also brave in their pining. And it was also fun to see the heroines fashion-forward and colorful wardrobe.