Asian dramas like
Great Expectations

Taking place in Shanghai in 1948, a double-crosser reveals details about a top-level Communist Party operative, prompting the Nationalist secret service to track him down.

During the early 1940s, the fight against Japanese aggression was intensifying, reaching a crucial point. The ruthless Japanese imperialism wreaked havoc on the strength of the CCP's underground movement, resulting in the sacrifice of many revolutionary comrades. Xia Jia He, a member of the underground party, was tasked with delivering a radio to Dalian by the organization. However, he was intercepted and pursued by Japanese Police Officer Junji Aoki along the way. In a twist of fate, Xia encountered his first love, Wang Da Hua, during this ordeal. Da Hua, along with her current husband Tang Quan Li, became entangled in the events that unfolded. Despite Da Hua's attempts to save her husband, Tang Quan Li's fate remained unchanged. Fueled by resentment towards Xia Jia He for causing her misery and disrupting her peaceful life, Da Hua decided to keep the radio instead of returning it to its rightful owners.

The tale revolves around the 48th inheritor of the Yang Warriors martial arts technique, who battles monsters and enhances his abilities to emerge as a genuine hero. Yang Xiao Lang has never been fond of mastering martial arts. Disappointed by his lack of drive, his grandmother sends him to live with his uncle Liu Guo, who manages the Zhonghua restaurant in Jiangcheng. In this unfamiliar town, Yang Xiao Lang becomes entangled with the police, the Qinglong Clan, and foreigners. In order to defend Xiao Fan, the woman he loves, Yang Xiao Lang must rise to the occasion, relying on his intelligence to combat injustices and bring glory to his family.

As Jiang Ling Long delved into the mysterious disappearance of a young girl, she crossed paths with Gu Zhan Bei, a youthful marshal hailing from Ping Cheng. Together, they cracked the case, prompting Jiang Ling Long to admire Gu Zhan Bei's capabilities and propose they team up at the detective agency. As they unraveled their second case, Gu Zhan Bei began to suspect that he and Jiang Ling Long were entangled in a series of murders. Simultaneously, tensions arose between the two as they confronted emotional complexities, unresolved cases from a decade past, and shadowy figures pulling the strings from the background, plunging them into a dire predicament.

During the year 1943 in Shanghai, Chen Qian, a military operative, was tasked with eliminating the Japanese forces, but ended up being ensnared by Yujiro Ida, the leader of Japan's plum organization

Detective Gong Sun He, along with Bao Qing Tian and their colleagues, are up against a dangerous criminal syndicate. Through cleverness and collaboration, they work together to unravel a string of intricate cases. Their mission is to combat wrongdoing and uphold the principles of justice. (TMDb)

Chen Chu is chosen to wed Miss Murong through the influence of a prominent family, without knowing that the marriage is a ploy to weaken his vitality. Despite this, Chen Chu enters into the marriage with full awareness, resolved to unveil the secrets surrounding a devastating fire that wiped out his family many years ago.

A romantic thriller unfolding in the chaotic era of Shanghai. (DramaWiki)

Wealthy entrepreneur Bai Yi Ming took his soon-to-be wife, A Bu, to his stunning Rose Manor. A Bu experienced a series of strange occurrences and nightmares during their stay. Seeking answers, she turned to her fiance. Bai Yi Ming had a brief affair with a woman named Hu Yin Yin, promising to marry her before disappearing without a trace. Learning of her pregnancy, Hu Yin Yin traveled to Shanghai in search of Bai Yi Ming. Fate had other plans for her, as she was eventually taken care of and loved by musician Tao Da Wei. While Bai Yi Ming was involved with other women, Tao Da Wei and Hu Yin Yin faced many challenges together. They welcomed a set of twins, and Tao Da Wei discovered Hu Yin Yin's beautiful singing voice. Tragically, Hu Yin Yin was disfigured in a terrible accident, leading her to wear a mask. Their paths crossed again when Hu Yin Yin, now known as Hu Die, encountered Bai Yi Ming once more. Despite their shared history, Bai Yi Ming pursued Hu Die. However, their story did not have a happy ending, as it was eventually revealed that Hu Die had passed away.

The narrative follows the Eighth Route Army as they attempt to reclaim Qiyang City, a strategic military outpost held by the Japanese forces during the Anti-Japanese War

Yang Mu Chu and Yang Mu Ci, twin brothers who were separated as children, experienced contrasting upbringings in the tumultuous 1930s Shanghai. Despite facing initial misunderstandings and various challenges, the brothers eventually unite to uncover and thwart a perilous plot orchestrated by the Japanese military.

Set against the backdrop of three significant historical events pre-dating the establishment of New China, The Eve revolves around the journeys of Lin Xi, Su Nan, and other zealous young individuals who participate in the revolution and dedicate themselves to their country. The narrative unfolds during the 1941 Shanghai Concession, the 1948 Battle of Jinzhou, and the liberation of Shanghai in 1949. Lin Xi, a member of a gang, and Su Nan, a forward-thinking female student, embody the unrecognized heroes of their era. It portrays the clandestine struggles and imminent perils faced during the Anti-Japanese War of Resistance, as well as the arduous path revolutionary laborers have trodden in pursuit of their beliefs.

Amidst numerous challenges posed by U.S. and Jiang spy operatives, Police Officer Pang Hong Mei successfully rescued Ji Danyang, a patriotic scientist recently returned from the United States, from an enemy spy. Together, they traveled to Lumen City to take part in the "Water Drop Project." Enemy special forces devised a sabotage mission called "Operation Rock," mobilized their troops, and attempted to dismantle the "Water Drop Project." Pang Hong Mei and Ji Dan Yang engaged in a fierce battle with enemy agents in Lumen, thwarted their scheme, safeguarded the "Water Drop Project," and ultimately achieved the desired outcome. The pair, who endured a life-threatening ordeal, also fulfilled their aspirations and unwavering beliefs.

Gu Zhan Bei reunites with his former lover Jiang Ling Long, who has assumed a new identity and established the Jiangbei Detective Agency. Opting to rejoin her agency, Gu Zhan Bei and Jiang Ling Long team up to rekindle their bond and tackle cases together.

Tao Zhen Yan, a trainee forensic doctor in the Republic of China, crossed paths with private detective Gu Nan Chuan during an investigation into a murder. Their destinies intertwined as they encountered the notorious stamp demon serial killer, leading them to collaborate in unraveling perplexing cases. (SubbingPaws on Ko-Fi)

Shortly before his wedding, businessman Fang Xue Wen is wrongly blamed for the murder of his fiancée Liu Jing Zhi and is gunned down. However, he is surprised to find himself waking up in a time loop, repeating the days before her death. With a strong determination to reveal the truth and avoid his grim destiny, Fang Xue Wen must hurry to identify the true perpetrator and end the cycle.

During the 1930s in Shanghai, Xiao Ke, a Communist operative, is double-crossed while in possession of confidential evacuation protocols, resulting in him being hunted down by lethal adversaries. In the midst of changing loyalties and concealed threats, he must outsmart his foes in a risky game of intelligence and selflessness for the cause.

Lu Yan is on a quest for retribution for his parents, but encounters continuous obstacles from Mu Lan. As their journeys intertwine, he realizes she is his long-lost love from childhood. With no choice but to collaborate, they expose the mysteries surrounding the elusive figure known as "Lu Chang He", who has been outsmarting them at every turn.

A peaceful village is disrupted by bizarre occurrences that reflect a tragedy from a hundred years ago. The appearance of a blood-written cursed message sends the town into a frenzy of fear. As the ominous atmosphere deepens, it becomes uncertain whether the danger stems from supernatural forces or a malevolent human conspiracy.

Left parentless amid the turmoil of the Republican period, Lai Fu endures a "fox spirit massacre" and refines his mystical abilities within a forsaken temple, ultimately becoming a wandering mystic. Ten years later, his path of revenge is set in motion by the "Weasel Immortal Wedding" predicament, drawing him into the web of the mysterious Miss Bai and the machinations of her affluent family. As strange occurrences plague Harbin, Lai Fu teams up with the determined Inspector Gu to delve into the mysteries. A startling discovery during the Bai family gathering reveals the true architect behind the “grey immortal” possession—the very traitor who killed his master! Together, they dismantle the Bai family's malevolent fortune-altering scheme and unveil a treacherous plot involving a troupe leader in league with the Japanese. Though justice prevails, Lai Fu chooses to abandon his newfound riches for a life of wandering. Both the headstrong Miss Bai and the spirited Inspector Gu opt to join him, turning the Five Immortals Conspiracy into a story of valor, where the conclusion of one blood feud heralds the start of new connections...

The narrative centers on two siblings, Shen Lin and Shen Fang, and their contrasting political views. Initially aligned with different revolutionary factions, they eventually united under a shared ideology and joined the revolutionary movement. Following the success of the Anti-Japanese War in 1945, Shen Fang, an operative in the Intelligence Department of the Kuomintang Military Command HQ, returned to his post. Collaborating with Mr. Ren, he uncovered traitors within his party, acquired the "Ganoderma Lucidum Plan", and thwarted the planned actions of the "Jinling Society". Despite receiving support from the organization, Shen Fang continued to struggle with physical and mental fatigue, as well as the ongoing threat posed by shrapnel in his brain. Compounding his challenges was the longstanding discord between his father and his brother Shen Lin, who harbored suspicions, confusion, and surveillance towards him. As a meticulously orchestrated "game" unfolded, the Shen brothers found themselves embroiled in a life-or-death struggle, navigating intricate puzzles, overcoming obstacles, and ultimately achieving a pivotal breakthrough towards victory.

The narrative follows three young women in Shanghai during the 1920s

In 1934, during a conflict, the Shi family in Jingzhen, Shaanxi stumbled upon a bronze dagger believed to have been used by "Jing Qin Qin". The father of the Shi family hid the dagger to keep it safe from the infamous warlord Feng Xiang and his followers. The bronze dagger, which had been dormant for two thousand years after failing to complete an assassination in Jingye, awakened with a thirst for blood. The scramble for the dagger led to tragedy, as the Shi family's father and daughter-in-law, as well as the brothers Mu Shi, were killed by the bandit leader Ke Wen. The brothers, Shi Togo and Shi Youshu, embarked on different paths of revenge. Over the course of ten years, Shi Togo transformed from an angry young man to a skilled assassin, while Shi Youshu attempted to downplay the value of the dagger and fell into addiction. Their differing approaches ultimately led to tragic consequences, with Shi Youshu losing the woman he loved to his brother. Yun Meier, torn between the two brothers, ended up as Shi Youshu's wife due to a twist of fate. In a final act of defiance, she used the bronze dagger to resist her fate and honor her true love for Shi Togo.

In 1929, the son of Liao Sheng Hui, the head of the police department in Tianjin, was unknowingly drawn into a complex scheme orchestrated by an unknown individual. This scheme led him to uncover the secrets surrounding a fire at the Shengnan Orphanage 14 years prior, a collection of mysterious Dunhuang cultural relics, a shocking series of poisonings that rattled the city, and the involvement of various factions such as the Communist Party, the Kuomintang, the Japanese, and the Beiyang warlords. Liao Sheng Hui faced numerous challenges as he delved into the puzzle, including formidable adversaries like the meticulous KMT special agent Zeng Jia Yang and the skilled Japanese ninja Ikuko. As the mysteries unraveled, the true motives of the Japanese and the Kuomintang were revealed, leading Liao Sheng Hui to a painful realization that he, Zeng Jia Yang, and Yu Zi were all connected to the orphanage. Despite their different allegiances, the three banded together to confront their common enemies, only to be defeated. When the anti-Japanese war erupted in 1937, the three comrades, now staunch communist fighters, reunited on the battlefield to fight against the common foe.

Nan Yu, the main character of a game focused on pursuing romantic interests, finds herself in the Republic of China as a forensic pathologist investigating dead bodies. A strange will states that she must solve a murder in order to go back to her own world. However, she must also contend with Gao Han, the lead character of a detective game, for control of their shared body, with only one of them able to return home. Realizing Gao Han's expertise in crime-solving and her own knowledge of love, Nan Yu decides to collaborate with him to tackle the complex case, which reflects the complexities of both their worlds. In the end, Nan Yu proposes an alliance with Gao Han, acknowledging that they both need each other to succeed.

During the Ming Dynasty, executioner To Sei Hoi and his god-brother, Shui Yu Chan, a doctor, find themselves in the town of Cheung Lung by accident. Despite its appearance of happiness and peace, Cheung Lung harbors a significant secret. The brothers encounter the wealthy Fok Tin Ming and his obstinate daughter, Fok Sin Yiu. Through a mix-up, Hoi and Yiu end up getting married, becoming husband and wife. Suddenly, a series of murders occur in the town, prompting Hoi to realize that he and Chan are ensnared in a dangerous scheme. An unknown figure lurks in the shadows, causing widespread fear and suspicion. But who is behind it all? A deity? A human? The mysterious presence instills terror in the hearts of the townspeople...

Renowned master carpenter Li Mu Dun, celebrated for his expertise in traditional Luban methods, finds himself the main suspect in a string of chilling murders steeped in superstition. Eager to vindicate himself, Li joins forces with detective Yang Zong and forensic specialist Su Qing Yun. Together, this trio is driven by logic and a quest for justice as they strive to prevent further murders and uncover the reality behind the alleged “supernatural.”

The drama depicts the life of politician Kim Doo Han through a mix of reality and fiction. Kim Doo Han, son of the renowned general Kim Jwah Jin, trained in martial arts after his father's passing and rose to become a leader in Seoul's Jong Ro area, determined to defend his fellow Koreans against the Japanese. He faces opposition from Goo Ma Juk, the Seoul boss who seeks to hand over the city to Japanese developers, with the assistance of Hyashi, a Korean man living as a Japanese. Despite these challenges, Kim Doo Han strives to preserve Korean culture and eventually transitions into politics following the Korean War.

During the early years of the Republic of China in Taiwan, there was a reorganization of industries, financial instability, and ongoing natural and man-made disasters. Two individuals from different regions, one from the North and the other from the South, came together to create and distribute the finest soy sauce in Taipei stores.

During the time when the final emperor Pu Yi was confined in the northeast, a group of patriotic fighters ventured into the Emperor Tai Chi Mausoleum to safeguard a secretive mahogany box from being seized by the Japanese. This led to a chain of strange occurrences, including deaths and vanishings, linked to the box.

The narrative revolves around a notorious murder that deeply affected the authorities and the general populace during the transition from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China

Lei Ming, a detective working in the Republic of China, uncovered a puzzling case involving theft and vandalism three decades ago, which ended up implicating him in the investigation.

The narrative revolves around a team of scholars determined to safeguard valuable artifacts to protect their country's heritage. Following the Mukden Incident in September 18, 1931, Northern China faced a dire situation. Ren Hong Yi, a military official of the Kuomintang, and Zhou Ruo Si, an employee in the cultural division of the Forbidden City, are entrusted with the duty of securely transporting national treasures further South to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. Despite the obstacles they encounter, they maintain the belief that as long as China's cultural origins are preserved, the nation will endure.