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Top 18 Time-Travel Chinese Dramas

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Here’s the list of top 18 time-travel Chinese dramas for everyone who loves fantasy, historical, and romance genres! This article provides lighthearted as well as twisted and complicated series.

18 Best Time-Travel Chinese Dramas:

• My Assassin Girlfriend (24 episodes)
• Hello Dear Ancestor (24 episodes)
• Love & The Emperor (24 episodes)
• Suddenly Seventeen (26 episodes)
• Love Through a Millennium (24 episodes)
• I’m a Pet At Dali Temple (22 episodes)
• Tang Dynasty Tour (36 episodes)
• To Get Her (30 episodes)
• Cinderella Chef (56 episodes)
• See You Again (45 episodes)
• Oh My Emperor (42 episodes)
• Unique Lady (51 episodes)
• Closer to You (48 episodes)
• Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty (40 episodes)
• Lost Love In Times (56 episodes)
• Love Better Than Immortality (40 episodes)
• Scarlet Heart (35 episodes)
• The Eternal Love (88 series)

18. My Assassin Girlfriend

If you are looking for a funny and uncomplicated time-travel Chinese drama, check out “My Assassin Girlfriend”. Here, you will see some of the traditional C-drama themes such as love triangles, amnesia, and enemies to lovers type of theme. Unlike in many other time-travel TV shows, its characters travel to the future, not to the past.

The plot revolves around the king who rules over an imperial court full of corrupt officials. The story tells us how he almost became the victim of another assassination attempt and falls in love with a female assassin. Because of a strange pocket watch, he, his loyal guard, and his beloved assassin time travel to present-day China. The king from the past takes the identity of the rich successor of the Bai Group. However, he faces many problems, since he doesn’t know much about the person whose identity he has taken. Moreover, he realizes that his beloved assassin doesn’t recognize him.

• Genres: rom-com, fantasy, historical
• Starring: Ryota, Anna Hollen

17. Hello Dear Ancestor

Here’s another C-drama where characters travel to the future. The series “Hello Dear Ancestor” is a great choice for you if you want to see a comedy, a drama, or a super touching romance. Except for several sad and serious final episodes, it’s an extremely funny rom-com! It centers on a man from the Han Dynasty who almost died in a fight for leadership. Thanks for the help of a being from another world, he survives. However, the man falls into a deep sleep and wakes up only many years later. In 2020, he finally wakes up and realizes he possesses superpowers.

Looking for similar dramas to “Hello Dear Ancestors”? Check out the list of Top 9 Interspecies Relationship C-Dramas!

• Genres: fantasy, sci-fi, rom-com, melodrama
• Starring: Chen Zhe Yuan, Dong Qing

16. Love & The Emperor

Based on the manhua and novel “Shen Gong Chou Nu” written by Bing Se Zhu, the Chinese drama tells us about traveling to the past times. Unlike the previous time-travel Chinese dramas, “Love & The Emperor” has even more interesting fantasy twists. For example, the main character travels through time via a video game where she chooses the most difficult level!

The story centers on an ordinary woman working in a gaming company. She falls head over heels for her boss, but he doesn’t even notice her. Then, she decides to become the first gamer to try out a new game about having a crush on an emperor. In the game, she is an ugly maid who tries to climb up a career ladder in the palace and gain the attention of the emperor.

• Genres: historical, rom-com
• Starring: Camille Hua, Alan Luo

15. Suddenly Seventeen

“Suddenly Seventeen”, one of the top time-travel Chinese dramas, is not about kings, emperors, or a completely another period. The characters of this series travel in time only ten years back. Moreover, it doesn’t focus on the idea of time travel too much. Unlike in the majority of other shows of this genre, it shows how characters try to change their fates using the chance of traveling to the past. Check it out if you enjoy watching series about youth and campus life.

After a conversation, Mao Liang and Liang Xia time travel ten years back into the past. Suddenly, they wake up as teenagers on their old high school campus. Having realized their situation, they want to change the fates of those around them for the better. This story focuses on many support characters, not only on two leads.

• Genres: supernatural, youth, romance, drama
• Starring: Jiang Meng Jie, Jiang Chao

14. Love Through a Millennium

Adapted from the popular K-drama “Queen In Hyun’s Man”, this Chinese series centers on the same story of love between a man and a woman from different periods. “Love Through a Millennium” follows the story of an imperial scholar who time travels two thousand years into the future. Hence, he wakes up in modern-day China. There, he crosses paths with a modern-day actress. If you want to watch a series with a thoroughly explained plot that makes sense, don’t miss this one!

• Genres: supernatural, rom-com, historical, drama
• Starring: Jing Bo Ran, Zheng Shuang

13. I’m a Pet At Dali Temple

This Chinese drama focuses on the story of a woman who turns into a cat and travels in time to ancient times. Then, she comes across a man who suffers from poison. Accidentally, after kissing each other, they realize they can help each other. They decide to set out on a journey to find the mysterious stone that can solve their problems.

If you are tired of watching classical stories full of hatred and betrayal, if you are looking for something fresh and different, then watch this Chinese series. The main leads in the drama “I’m a Pet At Dali Temple” have super lovely chemistry and will make you watch the drama till the end.

• Genres: historical, fantasy, romance, crime
• Starring: Xu Kai Cheng, Hu Yi Xuan

12. Tang Dynasty Tour

Here’s one of those time-travel Chinese dramas that are filled with tears and laughter at the same time. The series “Tang Dynasty Tour” follows the story of an archaeologist who travels to the past. One day, he gets caught in a sandstorm while on an expedition and then wakes up in the period of the Tang Dynasty. He does his best to survive in the competitive environment of the Royal Palace and to earn himself a decent life as a court official. Soon, he befriends the Crown Prince and crosses paths with his old love.

• Genres: rom-com, historical
• Starring: Wang Tian Chen, Karlina Zhang

11. To Get Her

Here’s one of those time-travel Chinese dramas that are perfect to take a break from heavy dramas full of difficult schemes and angst. The series “To Get Her” is a light-hearted and feel-good rom-com with an interesting plot.

The plot revolves around a popular singer who suddenly gets trapped into a video game as the Prince, the protagonist. His girlfriend is determined to save him, so she enters the game as the Princess, the villain of the story. To achieve her goal, she must help the Prince to become the King. However, the Prince doesn’t want to take the throne – the music is the only thing he is interested in. Moreover, he doesn’t remember anything from his real life, so he considers the Princess to be his enemy, not a friend.

• Genres: rom-com, adventure, historical, fantasy, youth
• Starring: Daddi Tang, Huang Ri Ying

10. Cinderella Chef

This C-drama has quite a unique story and setting that are different from the majority of others on the list. The main female character time travels not to the Royal Palace, but a bandit tribe. It’s not typical for a drama of this genre, isn’t it? Moreover, the protagonist remains herself despite her new surroundings.

The series “Cinderella Chef” centers on the story of a modern girl who travels through time to an ancient period. Once she wakes up in the new place, she realizes she is kidnapped by bandits. Soon, she enters into a fake marriage with the leader of the gang and starts to break many hearts.

• Genres: historical, drama, rom-com, fantasy
• Starring: Zhong Dan Ni, Bie Thassapak Hsu

9. See You Again

Based on the novel written by Sui Huo Zhu, the drama “See You Again” centers on a woman who falls into a coma and. Falling into a deep sleep, she time travels ten years back, to her university days. Thus, she is transported to the times when she hasn’t met her future husband yet. So, she wants to meet him as soon as possible to find out more about his previous life. Obviously, she also is determined to change the future of her relatives and friends for the better by preventing bad events from happening.

• Genres: sci-fi, romance
• Starring: Tiffany Tang, Shawn Dou, Yang Shuo

8. Oh My Emperor

If you are bored of twisted and heartbreaking period Chinese series, “Oh My Emperor” is that breath of fresh air that you need. It’s a quick-paced simple fantasy drama with a relatively new concept . You rarely stumble upon TV shows with a zodiac element theme where the main characters are the constellation owners, isn’t it? However, since it’s not an overly serious show but a xianxia/parody C-drama, its storyline might seem somewhat simple and not too clever or unique.

The story is about a modern girl who time travels into the past to a mysterious nation lead by the 12 constellation owners. In this new world, she crosses paths with the current emperor, the representer of the Capricorn constellation.

• Genres: historical, rom-com, fantasy
• Starring: Rosy Zhao, Jason Koo, Sean Xiao, Wu Jia Cheng

7. Unique Lady

Here’s another “game plot” type of time-travel Chinese dramas on the list. The first part of the show is very lighthearted and comic since a character gets immersed into a game and thinks only of going through the levels. However, the second part is more memorable and makes you get attached to the characters.

The fantasy C-drama “Unique Lady” revolves around a girl who travels into a game world where she wakes up as the prime minister’s daughter. There, she is given the chance to meet many handsome men. According to the rules of the game, she is allowed to come back to her real life when she finds a man who she truly falls in love with. However, she ends up in an arranged marriage with a man who she can’t stand. Will she be able to find love and return home?

• Genres: historical, rom-com, action, fantasy
• Starring: Simon Gong, Jade Cheng

6. Closer to You

Here’s one of the high school/youth time-travel Chinese dramas that cover societal problems. If you are ready to dive into the world of high schoolers, learn life lessons together with them, root for their dreams, and go through difficult times with them, then you can’t miss this fantasy C-drama.

“Closer to You” centers on the story of a handsome surgeon who travels back to his high school years. He decides to use this unique chance to be brave enough to help his classmate to change her tragic future.

C-Dramas Similar to “Closer to You”: Top 14 Best Slow Burn Romance Chinese Series

• Genres: fantasy, school, romance, fantasy, youth
• Starring: Li Yi Nan, Sabrina Zhuang, He Ze Yuan, Wang Rui, Zheng Miao

5. Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty

If you like the highly popular drama “Scarlet Heart”, you will most likely enjoy the Chinese time-travel historical “Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty”. It has the same level of an emotional roller-coaster and a similar quantity of endless palace intrigues. So, if you are into this type of drama, don’t walk away from this one.

This fantasy historical drama follows the story of a girl from modern-day China. She is an architect, so she deals with items from different periods. One day, she is given an item from the Qing dynasty and suddenly she gets transported to that period, right to the Royal Palace! Moreover, it turns out that she has already been here but in her dreams. Back then, she met a man who she liked. However, the memories of both of them have been raised, so they have to go through a lot before they meet again. Hence, the girl from the modern world has no chance but to intervene with endless palace intrigues.

• Genres: historical, adventure, drama, romance, action, fantasy
• Starring: Landy Li, Wang An Yu

4. Lost Love In Times

If you are a fan of such popular historical C-dramas as “Scarlet Heart” or “Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms”, you will also fall in love with this one. “Lost Love In Times” is based on the novel “Drunk Linglong”.

It tells the story of a Prince and a witch who end up falling in love with each other. They are even brave enough to think of marriage, while their state doesn’t approve of their relationship. It seems like the simple wish to be happy together is too unrealistic and even might lead to a horrible catastrophe.

• Genres: fantasy, romance, historical
• Starring: Cecilia Liu, William Chan, Joe Xu, Cecilia Han, Simon Gong, Liu Yi Jun

3. Love Better Than Immortality

If you are not looking for a high-budget drama with the best complicated storyline and breathtaking sceneries, then you should check out this one. Even though lacking in all those things, it has an incredible main couple and a good love story between them. “Love Better Than Immortality” will please everyone who loves non-existent, totally unrealistic stories. The unusual plot of the drama focuses primarily on a love triangle between a girl and two totally different guys. Interestingly, the evil one is the main lead!

Based on the novel “Through the Thunder Sky” written by Shu Ke, this wuxia transports us to the future 2196. By that time, people reached a new level of life and became immortal. They are no longer worried about many everyday cares. However, fully immersed in the virtual world, they lack genuine experiences. No wonder Chun Hua, the protagonist of the story, is in deep depression because of not being able to experience love. One day, she finds a program that promises to help her find true love but wants her to give up on her immortality in exchange.

• Genres: historical, rom-com, adventure, fantasy, wuxia
• Starring: Rosy Zhao, Li Hong Yi, June Wu

2. Scarlet Heart

If you are not looking for a lighthearted fantasy, and on the contrary, are ready to dive into a heart-wrenching historical drama full of palace intrigues, then you simply can’t miss “Scarlet Heart”. It’s one of the most popular stories ever. This historical Chinese series tells us about a girl from modern-day China who gets into an accident and then wakes up in the Royal Palace. She realizes that it’s completely another period! She time-traveled to the Qing dynasty. Having been transported many centuries to the past, she is now in the body of her old incarnation. It doesn’t take her long to get involved in risky palace schemes and become a part of a love triangle.

• Genres: romance, drama, historical, tragedy, fantasy, tragedy
• Starring: Cecilia Liu, Nicky Wu, Kevin Cheng, Damian Lau, Justin Yuan

1. The Eternal Love

In the continuation of the star-crossed lovers’ theme, “The Eternal Love” tells about the love story of a couple that overcomes countless obstacles and is destined to meet again only in the next lifetime. If you want to get invested in the sad love story between the crown prince and a fox spirit, then don’t hesitate and start watching it!

• Genres: romance, adventure, historical, fantasy, drama, wuxia
• Starring: Yang Mi, Mark Chao

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Which Time Travel Chinese Drama Is Your Favorite?

• The Eternal Love
• Scarlet Heart
• Love Better Than Immortality
• Lost Love In Times
• Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty
• Closer to You
• Unique Lady
• Oh My Emperor
• See You Again
• Cinderella Chef
• Tang Dynasty Tour
• I'm a Pet At Dali Temple
• Love Through a Millennium
• Suddenly Seventeen
• Love & The Emperor
• Hello Dear Ancestor
• My Assassin Girlfriend

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The 10 Best Time Travel Chinese Dramas to Watch

In the vast world of Chinese television, few genres have captured the imagination like time travel dramas. The series seamlessly blends elements of history, fantasy, and romance, offering viewers a captivating escape into a world where the limits of time are nothing but an illusion.

In this in-depth exploration, we’ll examine the top 10 Chinese time travel dramas that left an indelible mark on the genre. See the list below and read until the end!

List of The Best Time Travel Chinese Dramas

1. i belonged to your world.

Starting our journey through the world of time travel in Chinese dramas is “ I Belonged to Your World ” which was released in 2023.

This Chinese time travel series introduces a contemporary twist to the concept, taking viewers into a world where the present collides with the past.

As the characters navigate the complexities of time, the drama unfolds, offering a unique blend of romance, suspense, and cultural exploration.

This C-drama has 20 episodes and is available on iQiyi. Stars Qi Yan Di, Liu Yi Tong, and Jerron Wu.

See Also : I Belonged to Your World Review and Ending Explained

“ Reset ” takes us on a thought-provoking journey where the fabric of time is intricately woven. This gripping series follows the characters as they grapple with the consequences of horrific events that recur over and over again.

The story follows Li Shi Qing, a college student who is trapped in a never-ending time loop. Where he is always trapped in a public service bus that is about to explode, bringing death, and destruction to himself and everyone on the bus.

The complexity of the narrative and outstanding performances from the actors make “Reset” a must-watch for those looking for one of the best time travel Chinese dramas.

This C-drama was released in 2022 and has 15 episodes. You can watch it on Netflix and Viki. Stars Bai Jing Ting and Zhao Jin Mai.

3. Joy of Life

Although “ Joy of Life ” is primarily a Chinese historical drama , the clever incorporation of time travel elements adds a layer of intrigue that captivates the audience.

Set in ancient China, the protagonist finds himself navigating the intricacies of palace life while possessing knowledge from the future.

The combination of historical splendor and storytelling that travels through time creates an engaging viewing experience. Released in 2019 and has 46 episodes. You can watch it on Viki. Stars Zhang Ruo Yun, Li Qin , Chen Dao Ming, and Wu Gang.

4. Till the End of the Moon

In ” Till the End of the Moon ” viewers are treated to a heavenly romance that transcends the limitations of time. This Chinese wuxia drama skillfully blends fantasy and time travel elements to take the audience into a love story that spans centuries.

As the characters navigate the challenges of time travel, the series develops into a visually stunning and emotionally resonant masterpiece with wrenching romance.

This is one of the best time travel Chinese dramas available on Netflix. Released in 2023 and has 40 episodes. Stars Luo Yun Xi and Bai Lu .

See Also : Till The End of The Moon Review

5. Love in Time

Next, “ Love in Time ” invites viewers into a romantic sojourn through the temporal dimension, where love defies the boundaries of time itself.

The series beautifully explores the complexities of relationships in the context of time travel, offering the perfect mix of touching moments and tense twists.

The chemistry between the characters and the well-crafted narrative make it stand out in the realm of modern romance Chinese time travel series.

Released in 2022 and has 24 episodes. You can watch it on iQiyi. Stars Yang Xu Wen and Julia Xiang.

6. Shining for One Thing

“ Shining for One Thing ” highlights the mysteries of time in a narrative full of intrigue and emotion. The series follows the characters on a quest that connects the past and present, uncovering secrets hidden for generations.

With riveting storytelling and meticulous attention to detail, this one of the best Chinese romance dramas is a shining example of the time travel genre.

This Chinese series about time travel is available on Viki. Released in 2022 and has 24 episodes. Stars Karlina Zhang and Qu Chu Xiao.

7. Scent of Time

Adapted from a novel entitled “ The Female Supporting Role “, this Chinese drama introduces a fantasy experience in a time travel series like no other.

The story of this C-drama center on the Hua family, who were punished for accusing the Mu family of crimes. The Hua family’s daughter, named Hua Qian, had to die after protecting her family.

But she suddenly woke up again on her wedding day and felt, this was an opportunity to change her family’s tragic fate.

Released in 2023 and has 30 episodes. Stars Zhou Ye , Wang Xing Yue, Peng Chu Yue, Zhang Yi Jie, and Zhao Qing.

See Also : Scent of Time Chinese Drama Review and Ending Explained

8. Legally Romance

“ Legally Romance ” adds a unique twist to the time travel genre by blending it with hate-love drama. The story follows the story of Qian Wei who has been working under Lu Xun for some time now. She felt she should have a better career, but was hindered by Lu Xun.

Lu Xun holds a grudge from his school days against Qian Wei. So he will make sure Qian Wei’s life is hell while she still works in his office.

But all that changed when Qian Wei had an accident and fell into a coma. During her coma, Qian Wei was in a dream world where she returned to being a law student and met Lu Xun who had a different character from her previous boss.

One of the best Chinese time travel dramas is available on WeTV. Released in 2022 and has 33 episodes. Stars Z. Tao and Song Zu Er.

9. Back to Seventeen

“ Back to Seventeen ” takes viewers on the journey of a 27-year-old girl named Zhong Xiao Xiao, who lives an ordinary and busy life. But at the class reunion, she wanted to give the DV recording of her youth to Xu Yang, her boyfriend, but when the DV was turned on, she returned to the age of 17.

The series explores themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the eternal spirit of adolescence, all within the context of time travel. Its heartfelt storytelling and interesting characters make it stand out in the world of Chinese time travel series. Released in 2023 and has 25 episodes. Stars Zhang Miao Yi and Fang Xiao Dong.

10. The Eternal Love

Closing out our exploration is “ The Eternal Love “, one of the best Chinese historical dramas with a time travel theme mixed with wuxia.

The series introduces viewers to a love story that transcends time, seamlessly blending elements of fantasy and romance. Its enduring popularity speaks to the universal appeal of a well-crafted narrative that stands the test of time.

This C-drama was released in 2017 and has 58 episodes. You can watch it on Netflix . Stars Yang Mi and Mark Chao.

That’s the list of the best Chinese dramas time travel that you must watch right now. So, cast aside your current constraints and embark on a time-traveling odyssey through China’s television treasures. Thank you for reading this article, enjoy watching!

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7 Time Travel C-Dramas That Will Take You On Epic Adventures

Time traveling C-dramas are quite diverse and are one of the most enjoyable genres to watch! If you’re aching for some recommendations, look no further. Here are seven C-dramas with time traveling leads that you should check out!

Go Princess Go

“Go Princess Go” is one of the most hilarious and enjoyable dramas to watch. It never takes itself seriously and works with its low production budget by making fun of itself. Zhang Tian Ai  plays Zhang Peng, a playboy who gets sent to the past as a woman! Zhang Peng attempts multiple times to return back to his world but quickly adapts when he finds out he can flirt with all the women and even Qi Sheng ( Peter Sheng ), the crown prince to whom he is married to. Peng Peng’s stay gets complicated when he finds himself falling for Qi Sheng. If you’re looking for a zany time traveling drama, this is the one for you, but be on the lookout for the alternate endings as well. This drama deals with bisexuality, and because of the nature of Peng Peng and Qi Sheng’s romance, there were some edits to their storyline, which means that there are multiple endings for fans to piece together.

Scarlet Heart (Bu Bu Jing Xin)

“Scarlet Heart” is one of the most heart-wrenching palace dramas and tells the tale of Zhang Xiao ( Liu Shi Shi ) who transports back to the Qing Dynasty as Maertai Ruo Xi. She gets embroiled in the affairs of the numerous princes as they vie for the throne, all while trying her best not to alter history. It’s hard not to fall in love with a drama that showcases the complexity of brotherhood and love through the careful choices of actions and beautiful dialogue. On top of that, the soundtrack heightens the bitterness and heartbreaking moments of the drama. For fans of angst, betrayal, and epic romances, this drama packs it all.

Catch episode 1 of “Scarlet Heart” below:

Palace (Gong)

In “Palace,” Yang Mi travels as Luo Qingchuan to the Qing Dynasty, where she meets the 4th Prince and 8th Prince and falls in love with them. For viewers that have seen “Scarlet Heart,” this drama also has a very similar story as both leads end up in the Qing Dyansty and become torn in their love for the princes. This drama is not as dark as “Scarlet Heart,” so for fans who want to watch a palace drama that is not as bittersweet, this one fits the checklist!

Cinderella Chef

“Cinderella Chef” serves the perfect combination of food, romance, and humor! On the night of a red moon, Yao Yao ( Zhong Dan Ni ) transports to the past and ends up in a marriage with Chun Yu ( Bie Thassapak Hsu ), who has been sent to spy on a group of bandits. Yao Yao and Chun Yu initially butt heads, and while they end up being unable to be apart from each other, their eventual separation is doomed to happen. This drama is a good show for those that want to laugh every episode as Yao Yao adapts to the new environment and cooks up a storm with her innovative ideas and masterful skills as a chef.

Catch episode 1 of “Cinderella Chef”:

Oh! My Emperor

Oh! My Emperor stars Zhao Lu Si as Luo Fei Fei who transports to a fantasy world in which the ruler is rotated among those who are the owners of a constellation. For those that have seen “Cinderella Chef,” Zhao Lu Si is a familiar face; instead of playing a demure character like Yi Yi in that drama, Lu Si takes on a completely different role in “Oh! My Emperor” as a comedic lead. For those that love fantasy historical dramas with a comedic spin, “Oh! My Emperor” fits the bill. Do beware, though, of the second lead syndrome!

Love Weaves Through a Millennium

“Love Weaves Through a Millenium” also offers a different time traveling story. This time the time traveler is the male lead Gong Ming, a scholar from the past who ends up in the present and meets Lin Xiang Xiang, an actress. The chemistry between the leads is really cute, and having a male lead that travels back and forth from the past to the present is a refreshing idea for this genre. For viewers who want to watch an atypical narrative, give this one a go.

The Eternal Love

“The Eternal Love” stands out in terms of time traveling dramas. Instead of a lead that just transmigrates into the body of a person in the past, the two souls actually inhabit one body. Xiao Tan ( Liang Jie ) enters the body of Qu Tan Er, and they basically switch back and forth whenever one of them lies. Because there are two souls in one, it complicates the romance as the male lead Mo Lian Cheng falls for Xiao Tan’s outgoing and loud personality, which greatly contrasts that of Tan Er’s ladylike disposition. Those interested in a different interpretation and twist to the time traveling genre should give this one a try!

Catch episode 1 of “The Eternal Love”:

Soompiers, what is your favorite time traveling drama? Let us know in the comments below!

isms   is a big fan of Asian dramas and loves watching variety shows.

Currently watching : “Meteor Garden 2018” Looking forward to: “The Rise of Phoenixes” and “Pillow Book”

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7 Absolutely Fun Time Travel Asian Dramas You Should Watch

Time travel stories are universally loved around the world! Hollywood is overflowing with them: the famed Back to the Future series, sci-fi films like Star Trek and X-Men , or rom-coms such as Hugh Jackman’s Kate & Leopold . Time travel Asian dramas have also grown popular.

My favorite aspect of these time-bending tales is the fish-out-of-water fun ensuing when a person deals with the inevitable time-shock from visiting the past or the future.

RELATED: The Scribe of Siena – Outlander Fans Will Enjoy this Time Travel Romance

Time travel stories are especially perfect for the romance genre. After all, it brings out the angsty and heart-rending idea that time is literally opposing two people from being together. Over the years I’ve seen many Korean/Chinese variations of time-travel romances – so now I can share seven exciting, crazy and fun time travel Asian dramas!

Update: We updated streaming availability in July 2019.

7 Fun and Romantic Time Travel Asian Dramas

(in alphabetical order), 1. bu bu jing xin.

Other Titles: Scarlet Heart, Startling by Each Step

Country: China

Synopsis: Zhang Xiao didn’t ask to be transported back to the Xing Dynasty. But after a terrible accident, she awakens in the body of a girl named Ruo Xi.

Set during the 18 th century of Emperor Kangxi’s reign, Ruo Xi becomes entangled in a battle for the throne amongst Kangxi’s many sons. Will Ruo Xi fall for the kind, quiet 8 th prince destined to die early or the enigmatic, intense 4 th Prince who will take his father’s throne no matter the cost?

Why You Should Check It Out: This extremely popular Chinese time travel drama is gorgeously filmed, subtly acted, and epically dramatic.

Ruo Xi is a likable heroine and her struggles feel relatable as she strives to fit in the harsh royal palace. This is definitely more of an angsty drama with a gray storyline that refuses to define any characters as merely good or bad.

The rain scene with Ruo Xi kneeling outside and 4 th prince covering her with his cloak is one of many striking scenes in the drama and my favorite. What’s not to love in this reverse harem drama?

Where You Can Find It: Viki, DVD.

Other Titles: The Great Doctor

Country: Korea

Synopsis: When Queen Noguk is gravely wounded, King Gongmin sends his best warrior, Choi Young, through a mysterious portal into what they believe is “heaven” in search of a heavenly doctor.

Choi Young finds Dr. Yoo Eun-Soo a plastic surgeon and takes her back to the past. Yoo Eun-Soo becomes trapped in the past until the portal opens again. But with a hunky warrior love interest and deadly political enemies after her, will she be able to return?

Why You Should Check It Out: Faith is a super fun, exciting romp set during the 14 th century of Korea with sword fights, intense political intrigue, poisoning baddies, and more.

I loved both of the romantic love stories with spunky Eun-Soo and stoic Choi Young and between the arranged marriage of Queen Noguk and King Gongmin.

I love the acting choices and feel like each actor suited his/her role. My biggest fault with this drama was the baddies could’ve been more menacing. And a few anticlimactic fight scenes left me wanting more.

However, I love the characters and romance in this drama and have re-watched my favorite scenes more times than I will admit!

Where You Can Find It: Viki. You can also buy on Amazon Video or DVD.

3. Jade Palace Lock Heart

Synopsis: Luo Qingchuan is a sweet, history-loving girl who accidentally gets transported in time to the 18 th century during Emperor Kangxi’s reign. She gets caught in a love triangle between the 4 th and 8 th prince. Will she choose the man with all the power or the prince who won’t survive for long?

Why You Should Check It Out: Okay, so yes this is almost the exact same story as Bu Bu Jing Xin. Only Palace feels like night and day difference as it’s a much zanier, light-hearted fare.

This version, though, is pretty manic and exaggerated. And worse there aren’t as many princes who fall for Quingchan! Honestly, I watched this drama for Feng Shaofeng who is adorable even as he plays the often self-centered 8 th Prince.

This one definitely has more laughs and cheerful moments than Bu Bu Jing Xin . And amazingly enough, it does end happily. Now, how did they pull that off?

Where You Can Find It : Currently Unavailable

4. Queen In-Hyun’s Man

Synopsis: Kim Boong-Do is a young nobleman in the 17th century, protecting the deposed Queen In-Hyun. A friend gives Boong-Do a protection charm and Boong-Do is magically transported to modern Korea anytime he’s in life-threatening danger.

There he meets Choi Hee-Jin, a struggling actress, and a relationship starts to blossom. Can they truly be together, though? Or will fate intervene?

Why You Should Check It Out: Oh my goodness, this is probably my number one choice for an entertaining, romantic time travel drama!!

Queen In-Hyun’s Man is a wonderful blend of intense historical drama and light, breezy rom-com. The story bounces back and forth between the 17 th century with the scholar Kim Boong-Do and in modern times with adorable, spunky actress Choi Hee-Jin, yet never feels unbalanced.

The romantic chemistry is absolutely crackling in this drama and leaves us with a PERFECT couple.

Where You Can Find It: DVD

5. Rooftop Prince

Synopsis: The Crown Prince of Joseon desperately searches for his wife’s killer along with three loyal servants and gets transported into the future. He meets Park Ha and ends up staying at her apartment with his three servants.

Things complicate when the Crown Prince is mistaken for a rich business heir and he finds a girl who may be the reincarnation of his wife. Will he be able to untangle this mystery? And before he falls in love with Park Ha?

Why You Should Check It Out: This is a hilarious, off-beat time travel drama that totally won me over with its cute and crazy fish-out-of-water story.

The Crown Prince and his three buddies are absolutely golden, reacting to modern-day wonders such as zippers on jackets and TV.

Sadly, the show turned more melodramatic in the second half almost transforming into an office drama. The super-cute romance between Park Ha and the Crown Prince kept me around even with all the reincarnations going on which left viewers with some ambiguous moments near the end.

I’ve re-watched Episode Two a handful of times and it doesn’t fail to put a smile on my face.

Where You Can Find It: Viki, DVD

6. Splash Splash Love

Other Titles: Splish Splash Love

Synopsis: Dan Bi has been prepping for her college aptitude test but stress forces her to not show up for the test. She ends up slipping through time to the 15 th century where a young King Sejong rules.

She helps the king who has an unquestionable thirst for science and it’s not long before serious romantic feelings start brewing. But Dan Bi has to return to her home and her mom who’s waiting for her…

Why You Should Check It Out: With only two episodes, Splash Splash Love is more like a delightful 2-hour movie. Hilarious, emotional and unabashedly romantic, this drama blew past my expectations and left me with a lot of happy feels.

Dan Bi and the king bring together a fun if not adorable romance. Everything came together perfectly, including the secondary characters. This is a K-drama at its sweetest and finest.

Where You Can Find It: Viki

7. Time Slip Dr. Jin

Other Titles: Dr. Jin

Synopsis: Jin Hyuk is an extremely skilled doctor with a pretty girlfriend. But life takes a turn when his girlfriend gets in an accident and Jin Hyuk gets transported to the 19 th century.

There he associates with a nobleman who turns out to be the future Royal Prince Regent and an idealist girl who might be the reincarnation of his girlfriend. This doctor has his hands full of plagues, sicknesses, rudimentary medical tools and war brewing in the air.

Why You Should Check It Out: The pros of this time travel drama – a look at a fascinating time during the Joseon dynasty in the late 1800s with the 1871 Battle of Ganghwa with American forces, early persecution of Catholics, and the rise of the Prince Regent Heungseon into power.

However, the drama itself is manic and confusing with really no resolution by the end. The main leads are boring and difficult to empathize with. But the supporting cast fascinates with the clever, multi-layered Prince Regent, the charming lady Gisaeng (similar to a geisha), the angsty, tortured police captain and his best friend who’s secretly a rebellion leader.

Sadly, the ridiculous and unbelievable overshadows much of the good in this drama. But overall, it’s still a fun watch.

Where You Can Find It : Tubi

Do any of these Asian time travel dramas interest you? Have you seen another time travel drama you loved or hated? I’d love to hear about it!

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Go Back Spouses K-drama Review – A Fun Heartfelt Time Travel Story

Faith has always enjoyed movies and TV shows from swoon-worthy period dramas to heart-stopping action-adventure flicks. Her love of Korean dramas started a few years ago when she binge-watched a 62 episode period K-drama and fell in love. She also has a passion for writing stories. Even as a young teenager she entertained her sisters with episodic superhero adventures. Now she spends her time working, blogging, sewing, juggling several novels, and watching her favorite shows, mainly K-dramas. You can visit her blog at: www.justwaytooboss.blogspot.com

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12 thoughts on “7 Absolutely Fun Time Travel Asian Dramas You Should Watch”

Thanks for this lovely list! I’m watching Bu Bu Jing Xin, even though I’m not good at handling unhappy endings, because my friend told me it doesn’t end there. Apparently in the sequel, Bu Bu Jing Qing (scarlet heart 2), things look up for our main couple. It’s also cute that the leads are a couple in real life (Nicky Wu and Cecilia Liu)! I plan to watch Queen In-Hyun’s Man soon! And one day, Rooftop Prince too.

You’re welcome! Yes, that’s true – I’d forgotten about that but Scarlet Heart 2 came out in 2014 so there is hope for the main couple! And it is adorable that they became a real life couple after doing two dramas together. 😀 I’m certain you’ll love Queen In-Hyun’s Man and Rooftop Prince is super funny!

The unnecessary unhappy ending of Rooftop Prince spoiled it for me

Can you give me a recommendation about historical drama?

Absolutely! For period dramas, my personal favorite is A Tree With Deep Roots . The story is riveting with assassins of a secret organization trying to stop the king from creating a Korean alphabet (and thus changing society by allowing everyone a chance to read). The main hero is out for revenge against the king as well. This drama is intense and addictive from beginning to the end. It’s only 24 episodes, so not too long.

Queen Seondeok would be my second favorite. This one is 62 episodes, so its extremely long, but its an epic story of a girl becoming a queen without a husband. Plus she’s surrounded by handsome loyal bodyguards (who make up the supporting characters). 😀

Other recommendations: Arang and the Magistrate (fantasy/historical. It really feels like a fairy tale.) The Princess’ Man (fantastic quality, super intense but great acting) Three Musketeers (wonderful balance of drama, humor, adventure and danger) Empress Ki (51 episodes but Ha Ji-Won is a wonderful actress and really sells the story of a young woman who becomes the queen of a foreign country) I’m also currently watching Jackpot (also known as Daebak) which is a beautifully shot drama. I’m loving the bromance between the main hero and the young prince.

These sound fun, especially Splash, Splash Love 🙂

Splash Splash Love is definitely a favorite of mine!

The list is incomplete without the KDrama “Nine: Nine Times Time Travel”. Please do not miss out on it ^^

I was looking for that!

Thank you :))

This list seriously needs the drama Go Princess Go I recommend it to everyone who <3 comedy romance time travel period dramas

I saw a Chinese tv series but only what could catch in episodes. female thief tries on empress dress and female bounty hunter shows tries capture her and they fight over a jade headrest go back in time . thief disguises herself as guy and bounty is mistaken for some rebels dead wife. I do not the name of the show.. but odd dramedy. spoiler alert , thief and her male lover return present time , he on top tourist bus and she at forbidden city . bounty hunter remains back in time with her love .

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Chinese Drama - Time Travel

Time Travel is a popular tag in Chinese dramas, featuring characters who journey through time and experience adventures in different eras. This tag adds an element of fantasy and historical intrigue to the drama genre, making it a favorite among viewers.

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How Chinese and Korean Dramas invented a new time-travel approach

Transmigration dramas put a new spin on time travel.

Americans are deeply familiar with the classic time-travel trope.

Someone travels backward or forwards in time, often with the aid of technology , messes with the history as it was (or is to be) written, and then has to deal with the consequences. (Meanwhile, viewers struggle to navigate the myriad plot holes that tend to emerge.)

But most Chinese and Korean dramas approach time travel completely differently. Instead of having protagonists travel bodily back and forth in time, these works use a concept known as transmigration, which combines soul migration with time travel.

"When the general public talks about these concepts in [Korean] film and television, they typically speak of specific tropes like time travel, reincarnation, or a second chance at life, rather than using one word that encompasses all the meanings that ‘transmigration’ includes,” Sarah Chung, founder of Dramabeans.com , a K-drama fansite, tells Inverse .

Transmigration simply means the movement of a soul between worlds and time. In Korean and Chinese dramas that use it, the protagonist's soul suddenly migrates between realms and takes up residence in an existing person's body (think: Quantum Leap only without the technological component and generally in a more distant time period). It differs from reincarnation or rebirth stories common in Chinese and Korean pop culture, in that the “time traveler” is not reborn in the same world.

"Many transmigration storylines are a form of shuang wen (爽文), where the protagonist goes on a journey as they conquer obstacles and grow as individuals,” E and J, editors of dramapotatoe , a Chinese entertainment site, tell Inverse . "It's a satisfying journey for the audience who relate deeply to those challenges."

The concept has many variations, but the core aspect of a transmigration drama is the transcendence of time and space — but for both cultural and political reasons, the variations can be quite specific.

THE RULES OF TIME TRAVEL is an Inverse special issue exploring the evolution of science fiction's most imaginative sub-genre. From Marty McFly to Avengers: Endgame

What is transmigration?

A screenwriter transmigrates into her own story in The Romance of Tiger and Rose .

In Chinese media, transmigration is broadly known as chuānyuè (穿越) — though there are distinct subgroups within the genres — while in Korean media, it’s known as hoegwi (회귀) or bing-ui (빙의), or a combination of the two.

"Transmigration — as we see it in books and dramas today — isn't connected to traditional literature; it's very contemporary," AvenueX , a Chinese drama reviewer on YouTube, tells Inverse . "It didn't begin until the 1980s or ‘90s, and it first appeared in novels."

Xún Qín Jì (寻秦记) was a 1997 time travel novel in which a 21st-century secret agent uses a time machine to transport himself to the Qin dynasty and uses his knowledge to shape historical events. Although it's not exactly a transmigration story, Xún Qín Jì was instrumental in the development of the genre, and its 2001 drama adaptation, A Step into the Past , became the prototype for modern transmigration dramas.

Xiran Jay Zhao, the New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Widow trilogy and a Chinese history/culture YouTuber, notes that since the inception of the trope, many distinct subgenres of transmigration have developed.

“Chuān shū (穿书) translates to ‘transmigrate into a book,’” they tell Inverse . “For example, in The Romance of Tiger and Rose , screenwriter Chen Xiaoqian (Zhao Lusi), transmigrates into her own historical screenplay."

They add, “Chuān jīn (穿今) refers to when a person from the past transmigrates to the present, while chuān chéng (穿成) refers to when you transmigrate into a specific person.”

A Step into the Past is a 2001 drama adaptation of Xún Qín Jì.

In Korea, the rise of transmigration stories follows a long-standing interest in reincarnation in Korean media.

"I've observed reincarnation as a popular topic in Korean dramas, more than transmigration," Sara Bechtol, editor for the Netflix Korean entertainment channel The Swoon , tells Inverse . "They usually depict poor, hardworking characters who are reborn as wealthy, accomplished people, or in some circumstances, humans who are reincarnated as animals or nature.”

"Hwansaeng (환생) means 'reincarnation,' and it refers to characters who may or may not remember their previous lives,” Dramabeans’ Chung explains. “Furthermore, some stories may contain elements of more than one trope. A combination of these tropes is referred to as hoe-bing-hwan (회-빙-환)."

Its origins can also be traced back to early 21st-century time-travel novels.

“The first hoegwi novel published in print in the domestic genre novel market was Lee Sang-Hyun's 2004 martial arts novel, Baekdo (백도)," says Chung. "However, hoegwi novels didn't gain popularity until the 2010s, likely coinciding with the growth of the webtoon and web novel formats."

Fantasy Fulfillment & Nostalgia

Hae-Soo gets caught up in an imperial palace struggle 1000 years in the past in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo .

For Zhao, to understand the success of transmigration dramas in China, you have to recognize the popularity of historical costume dramas in general. Chinese people enjoy period dramas — and consequently, most transmigration dramas — Zhao explains, because they are nostalgic for the precolonial period.

They add, "China was the dominating nation in the area at the time, in contrast to all the humiliation and misery of the 19th and 20th centuries. This, paired with the stunning aesthetics of pre-colonial fashion in C-dramas, means that there's always a large number of transmigration dramas releasing at any moment.”

Coca Xie, TV host, producer, and founder of China Entertainment Group , tells Inverse that Chinese audiences love stories about men who write poetry and fall in love with beautiful women, or swordsmen who travel around to save the world.

“Audiences enjoy the anticipation of what the protagonist will do...”

“Many of these dramas are based on stories we grew up with, such as Journey to the West (1986) and Romance of the Three Kingdoms (1994) , and they remind us of video games we used to play as kids. As a result, there is a strong nostalgic impact," Xie says.

“Because Chinese people know our history so well,” Zhao says, “We love imagining what we’d do if we were thrown back in time with all the knowledge in our minds, especially at crucial historical junctions where one change can have huge historical ripple effects.”

Zhao gives A Step into the Past as an example. The story follows a protagonist who transmigrated to the end of the Warring States era of China when the boy meant to become the first emperor of China dies.

“So now, he has to place another boy in his place and ensure that the right sequence of events still ends up happening, or there’s literally gonna be no China in the future to return to,” Zhao explains.

"Likewise, Scarlet Heart takes place during a turbulent period in which the Kangxi Emperor's numerous sons vie for the throne, but the transmigrated protagonist already knows who will triumph,” they add. “Audiences enjoy the anticipation of what the protagonist will do with their knowledge of how things should proceed and if their actions would affect events."

Different Tropes for Different Folks

Thousand Years of Love is a Korean time travel drama that follows Princess Buyeo Ju of the Baekje Dynasty.

Korean pop culture, as in America, was deeply invested in the standard time travel tropes — one person, moving bodily into new periods until the adaptations of Chinese transmigration dramas became so popular.

Thousand Years of Love (천년지애) (2003) was the first Korean time travel drama, which focused on Princess Buyeo Ju (Sung Yu-ri) of the Baekje Dynasty (18 B.C. - 600 A.D.) who travels to 2003 while trying to avoid the advances of her Kingdom's conqueror, Silla General, Kim Yu-Seok (Kim Nam-jin).

The drama was a pioneer at the time, and over the next two decades, it inspired dozens of period-era time travel dramas, including Rooftop Prince (2012), Faith (2012), Splash Splash Love (2015), and more.

“...a pleasant form of escapism”

However, it wasn’t until the release of Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (달의 연인 - 보보경심 려) in 2016 — based on the Chinese novel-turned-series Startling by Each Step (步步惊心) which aired in 2011 — that transmigration became more popular among K-drama fans.

" Scarlet Heart Ryeo and Mr. Queen are the few K-dramas in which one soul travels across time to a different body," The Swoon’s Bechtol says; each was adapted from the Chinese original. "In dramas, the majority of soul-swapping takes place in the same timeline, and standard time travel dramas usually involve a character physically entering the past or future."

"The dramas may also include ludicrous shenanigans whether it's a high schooler in an adult body or a modern-day chef in a Joseon Queen's body," she adds. "This content is a pleasant form of escapism, but the lessons the characters acquire may also be relevant."

It also allows Korean storytellers to distinguish their work while remaining true to concepts viewers love.

"In a congested drama landscape saturated with familiar themes, writers are constantly seeking new ways to tell stories,” says Dramabreans’ Chung. “These tropes provide extra tools with which to build inventive and speculative narratives."

“Frivolous content”

The popular Chinese web series, Go Princess Go! (太子妃升职记) — the story of a modern playboy who transmigrates 1,000 years back in time and into the body of the Crown Princess (Zhang Tianai) — was abruptly removed from the website of its production company, LeTV, in 2015. A week later, it was re-released , after a third of its original content had been edited out.

It was assumed that the drama was pulled down because of its LGBT-positive content — which was verified in 2016 when the Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT) issued a new set of guidelines to regulate web dramas stating that feudal beliefs — including soul possession, reincarnation, witchcraft practice as well as, homosexuality and extramarital affairs — would be prohibited in future web dramas.

It was not the first time that Chinese authorities got involved in the content of Chinese-produced time travel dramas.

Go Princess, Go! captured the hearts of its audience with its campy, over-the-top narrative.

In 2011, the SARFT released a report criticizing time-travel dramas for their "bizarre plots, absurd techniques, and feudal superstition," and then expressed disapproval of these shows at a conference the following month, citing their “inaccurate history, exaggerated performance, and frivolous content.”

The SARFT then issued six guidelines in 2012 for the development of TV dramas, including one which stated that "historical dramas in ancient costumes should not create comedy." (Many shows had to be canceled since many transmigration dramas at the time were set in the historical past and were intended to be funny.)

Still, despite the new rules, new transmigration shows such as Joy of Life (2019) and The Romance of Tiger and Rose (2020) have passed the censors by adopting novel writing or dream setups, or by setting the story in fictional dynasties.

The unimaginable happens when a modern person is forced into a historical setting in Mr. Queen .

In South Korea, transmigration dramas are less regulated — but if one distorts Korean history, it too may be canceled or "pulled back."

This was the case with Mr. Queen ( 철인왕후), a 2020 Korean drama following a modern chef who finds himself in the body of Queen Cheorin (Shin Hye-sun) during the Joseon era. He struggles to adjust to his new body, navigate palace rules and maintain his relationship with King Cheol Jong (Kim Jung Hyun). It garnered over 4,000 complaints from viewers dissatisfied with the show's historical inaccuracy (as well as the derogatory remarks made about Koreans by the original Chinese novel author, Xiancheng).

As a result of the complaints, the subcommittee of the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) announced that the drama would receive " administrative guidance " for its controversial scenes.

What’s next?

Three friends connected across time and space in Someday or One Day .

For AvenueX, who has been reviewing Chinese dramas for nearly five years, transmigration has become clichéd and overused.

"I think chuānyuè dramas are a little out of fashion these days," she says. "There are just too many works in this genre that have been thoroughly exploited and overwritten."

While AvenueX acknowledges that transmigration is a good plot device for creating interesting scenarios, she is concerned about the genre's future in the drama landscape that has become increasingly concerned with making more money rather than delivering great, original content.

As for movie creators in South Korea and overseas, transmigration may be exactly the thing needed to spice up a boring time-travel story.

The most popular transmigration K-dramas have been adaptations of Chinese works. However, as the trope becomes more prevalent in the media, we should expect additional dramas based on original works, which may provide something truly unique and unexpected.

This article was originally published on May 13, 2022

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19 Time-Travel Dramas You Really Should Be Watching

A detective from 2000 and a cold case criminal profiler from 2015 solve old cases, as well as prevent new ones, by communicating through a mysterious walkie-talkie.

A man finds 9 magical incense sticks that allow him to travel 20 years back in time. He attempts to change the current world by saving his family from dangers 20 years ago, but the consequences are bigger than he can handle.

A detective accidentally travels to the future while chasing a serial killer through a mysterious tunnel. He discovers that the serial killer was never caught and continues to kill. With the help of the detectives in the future, he sets out to catch him once and for all.

4. Moon Lovers

An ordinary 21st-century woman gets transported back in time to year 941. She encounters royal princes of the Goryeo Dynasty and falls in love with the 8th prince.

5. Tomorrow, With You

A time traveling man foresees into the future to find himself living a miserable life. In order to change his fate, he marries a woman who ultimately teaches him how to love.

6. Saimdang, Light’s Diary

A Korean art history lecturer finds the mysterious diary of a historical figure named Saimdang. Through the diary, he tries to discover the truth behind her history.

7. Confession Couple

A divorced couple in their late-30s gets sent back in time to their college days. They try to change their life around by meeting new people, but destiny has its own plans.

8. Hit The Top

A famous idol travels to the future and meets his son, who is training to be an idol.

9. Live Up To Your Name

An oriental doctor from the past travels to the future and meets a doctor who firmly believes in modern medicine.

10. Splash Splash Love

A high school girl who has the ability to transport anywhere on a rainy day travels back to the Joseon dynasty, where she meets the young king.

11. Queen In Hyun’s Man

A noble-born scholar, who is the last remaining member of his family after a massacre, travels to the future and falls in love with an actress who stars in the drama about the massacre.

12. Rooftop Prince

A prince from the Joseon dynasty is sent to the future after he loses his lover. In the 21st century Seoul, he finds the reincarnation of his lost love who tries to help him back home.

13. Dr. Jin

A successful doctor travels back in time to the Joseon dynasty and meets a girl who looks exactly like his lover.

14. Somehow 18

A man travels back in time to try to save his first love who died when she was 18.

15. God’s Gift: 14 Days

A child gets kidnapped and is found dead. The mother of the child child travels back in time to save her child and catch the kidnapper.

16. Run Toward Tomorrow

A troublemaking high school student accidentally travels to the future, where he learns that his father was severely injured while looking for him. He tries to go back in time to change the future.

17. Manhole

A man travels between present and past in order to stop his ideal girlfriend from getting married.

18. Marry Him, If You Dare

A woman who regrets the choices she made in life travels back to her 32-year-old self, and tries to guide her away from making the same mistakes. One of the main mistakes being that she married the wrong person!

19. Bing Goo

A man from 1979 travels to the year 2016 and falls in love with a girl from the future.

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

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You know it when you see it: here are some movies that got sex scenes right.

Linda Holmes

It is a happy coincidence that our "What makes a good sex scene?" episode came out in the same week as Challengers, a film about a romance triangle in the tennis world starring Josh O'Connor, Zendaya and (not pictured) Mike Faist. Niko Tavernise/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures hide caption

It is a happy coincidence that our "What makes a good sex scene?" episode came out in the same week as Challengers, a film about a romance triangle in the tennis world starring Josh O'Connor, Zendaya and (not pictured) Mike Faist.

What makes a good sex scene? It can be easier spot bad sex, but Aisha Harris, Christina Tucker, Ronald Young, Jr. and I tried to focus on the good this week on Pop Culture Happy Hour. You can listen to our full conversation here. (We didn't originally plan for this episode to run the same week as our episode about Challengers , which is out in theaters now, but it's a happy coincidence, since that film has gotten a lot of attention — probably too much, relative to its other merits — for the sex scenes involving its three leads. It's really very good .)

Movie Reviews

Watch a tense romantic triangle play out on the tennis court in 'challengers'.

It's often very obvious when a sex scene is bad, just like when a sex scene in a book is bad. It can get so uncomfortable to watch that you have to leave the room (and not in a way that feels true to the story). One of my personal tells for a bad sex scene is when all I can think about is how hard the actors are trying to persuade me that the characters are having a good time. For example, there has been much good discussion in recent years about Showgirls being a more interesting and competent project than it originally got credit for, but in that one pool scene (if you know it, you know it), all I can see is the effort.

Lauren Bacall And The 'Sex? What Sex?' Kind Of Movie Sex

It's not always as clear which scenes are good . That's partly because they serve so many different functions, all of which look different, and all of which can be effective. Furthermore, you don't want to confuse whether a sex scene is used well in a film with whether it's hot to you personally, despite the fact that there is overlap between those considerations.

In the 'Last Dance,' Magic Mike leaves his thong-and-dance routine behind

Here's what I mean: When Aisha talks about the sequence near the beginning of Magic Mike's Last Dance , it's not irrelevant that the scene is, to her (and to me), hot. But it also makes sense in the context of the film and the franchise, partly because of the way it sets up the power dynamic between Mike (Channing Tatum) and Max (Salma Hayek Pinault). Mike is older now, he knows more, and the way he approaches a lap dance is actually different than in earlier movies.

And not all good sex scenes are hot in the same ways. The one I mentioned in the episode, from the romantic drama Love & Basketball , is sexy, yes. But it's also a scene between young adults (the talented basketball players Monica and Quincy, played by Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps), and as such, it incorporates a tentativeness that's not present in Magic Mike's Last Dance , to say the least. As Ronald pointed out during our discussion, that sex scene is quite different from one that takes place later in Monica and Quincy's relationship, when they're older and know each other better. That certainly feels true to real life, but it's not always reflected in Hollywood films, where I would tentatively estimate that 90% of on-screen sex is more idealized and thus less intimate than real-life sex, in part because it isn't allowed to change over the course of a relationship.

Movie Interviews

'like it or not, we live in oppenheimer's world,' says director christopher nolan.

Even further from the hotness of the lap dance scene is Ronald's pick: the imagination of Kitty Oppenheimer (Emily Blunt) running wild in Oppenheimer. While her husband (Cillian Murphy) is being interrogated, she pictures him having sex with his mistress, Jean Tatlock (Florence Pugh). It goes by quickly enough that it might seem like a Christopher Nolan flourish for flourish's sake, but it serves the purpose of letting you feel her pain over her husband's affair. Her relationship with Robert doesn't look especially romantic in the film, let alone sexually charged; she finds herself consumed by the idea that he was having hot sex with this other woman, and she locks eyes with her vision of a naked Tatlock and finds herself tormented. It's not really the intent of the scene to titillate the audience, just to give specificity to the shape of Kitty's preoccupation with the affair.

What makes a good sex scene?

Christina raised another really important point, which is that sex scenes also collide with viewers at very specific moments. Her example from Bound , and the scenes between Violet (Jennifer Tilly) and Corky (Gina Gershon), touches on (among other things) her own history. It's an underappreciated aspect of the sex-in-movies discourse: representation matters in these scenes as much as anywhere else. I always wish I saw more sex scenes in movies that featured a broader variety of body types; it's still really rare to see ones that feature anybody who is even average sized. This is one of the reasons I'm curious about the upcoming season of Bridgerton , which places its focus on the gorgeous and curvaceous Penelope (Nicola Coughlan).

Looking for 'nomance': Study finds teens want less sex in their TV and movies

Good sex scenes are like any other kind of good filmmaking, honestly: it comes down to execution with purpose and care, done relative to whatever the function of the scene might be.

Whether that's spiciness or conflict or relationship growth or (as in the case of Bound ) setting up a steamy neo-noir story that wouldn't be the same if it weren't hot as heck, form follows function, ideally.

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The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time.

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• Trivia Marisa Abela had done most of the singing in this film herself. She trained extensively to mimic Amy Winehouse 's vocals.

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Tesla’s Profit Fell 55%, Adding to Concerns About Its Strategy

The first-quarter results are likely to fuel worries that competitors will continue grabbing a bigger slice of a market dealing with slowing electric car sales.

By Jack Ewing

Tesla reported on Tuesday that it made significantly less money in the first three months of the year because of its tepid car sales, reinforcing concern among investors that the company led by Elon Musk is losing ground in the market for electric vehicles.

Profit fell 55 percent, to $1.1 billion, from the first quarter of 2023, the company said. And revenue fell 9 percent, to $21.3 billion.

A slump in earnings was seen as inevitable after Tesla said this month that sales in the first quarter fell 8.5 percent from a year earlier, and after the company announced plans to lay off more than 10 percent of its employees worldwide, or about 14,000 people.

The job cuts, including more than 2,000 workers at the company’s factory in Fremont, Calif., and nearly 2,700 at a factory in Austin, Texas, were interpreted as a sign that Tesla was struggling to bring costs in line with sinking revenue.

In the first quarter of 2023, Tesla made $2.5 billion and had one of the best profit margins in the industry, the company said a year ago. But it has been forced to cut prices, including in a new round last week, lowering the amount it makes on each car it sells. For a while, that strategy seemed to help bolster the company’s sales, but Tesla now appears to be struggling to attract buyers even with lower prices.

Tesla’s operating profit margin last quarter was 5.5 percent, half as much as a year earlier and in line with how much other automakers tended to earn.

Tesla investors are increasingly worried that its falling sales and profit are a symptom of larger problems , possibly pointing to the company’s inability to effectively respond to increased competition from established automakers and new carmakers from China .

Mr. Musk signaled recently that Tesla would focus on autonomous driving technology and a vehicle he called the Robotaxi, sowing doubt about the company’s plans to develop a new, lower-priced model that could make electric cars affordable to a broader range of customers and people in more countries.

Self-driving cars have long been an obsession for Mr. Musk. In 2019, he said Tesla would have one million autonomous taxis on the road the next year; the company still has no such cabs.

“Tesla lived on the coolness of its car, the idea that the company was about to launch autonomous vehicles and investor confidence in Mr. Musk’s ability to do nearly impossible things,” Erik Gordon, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, said in an email. “Now its cars are old, the fleet of Robotaxis promised five years ago hasn’t arrived, and confidence in Mr. Musk is battered by disappointments and behavior that mystifies investors.”

Tesla said on Tuesday that it remained on track to start producing a lower-priced vehicle next year. But in a change designed to reduce upfront investment, the car will use some new components and some borrowed from existing vehicles. That strategy will allow Tesla to make new models without building new factories, the company said.

“This update may result in achieving less cost reduction than previously expected,” the company said in a presentation to investors.

Tesla’s share price, which had fallen by about 40 percent this year, surged in extended trading Tuesday after its first-quarter report. Investors appeared to be pleased that the company was still planning a more affordable model.

Mr. Musk has defended Tesla’s price cuts, saying all carmakers adjust prices, but usually through dealer incentives and other measures that are not quite as visible to buyers. Tesla sells cars directly to customers online rather than through franchised dealers.

“Tesla prices must change frequently in order to match production with demand,” he said.

Tesla attributed the sales decline to conflict in the Red Sea, which has disrupted global supply chains; a fire that halted production at the company’s factory near Berlin; and the ramp-up of an upgraded version of the Model 3 sedan in Fremont. Tesla also blamed a decision by other carmakers to sell more hybrid vehicles, which include a gasoline engine and batteries and electric motors, for putting pressure on sales of fully electric vehicles.

The second quarter “will be a lot better,” Mr. Musk said on a conference call to discuss the company’s results.

He postponed a planned trip on Monday to India, where he was expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announce plans for a factory, citing “very heavy Tesla obligations.”

While the postponement may disappoint investors who had hoped India could be a new source of growth, it could also provide reassurance that Mr. Musk was addressing Tesla’s problems more urgently. The company’s models are unlikely to sell in large numbers in India, where most car buyers prefer smaller and more affordable vehicles.

Tesla’s newest vehicle is the Cybertruck, a pickup that the company began producing last year. But the company has sold only around 4,000, according to information that emerged in a recall last week, suggesting it will not be a significant source of growth.

The self-driving taxi is seen as a long shot, partly because even the most advanced autonomous systems available today sometimes make glaring mistakes. In addition, federal and state regulators will have to sign off before Tesla can put such taxis on the road. Tesla does not yet have a license to test driverless vehicles in California, where it would be expected to develop Robotaxi software.

“Elon Musk has promised Robotaxis since 2016,” said Jan Becker, chief executive of Apex.AI, a company that provides software used by autonomous driving systems. “I don’t see enough evidence of Tesla releasing a Robotaxi, at least in the short term.”

Mr. Musk said Tuesday that the technology was improving rapidly because of advances in artificial intelligence. Answering questions from analysts, he expressed impatience with anybody who viewed Tesla as primarily a car company.

“We should have been thought of as an A.I. and robotics company,” he said. Anyone who doesn’t have faith in Tesla’s ability to perfect autonomous driving, he added, “should not be an investor in the company.”

Until recently, Tesla was among very few carmakers making money on electric cars, but established carmakers are catching up. General Motors, which also reported earnings on Tuesday, has ironed out production difficulties in battery-pack manufacturing and is ramping up output, Paul Jacobson, the company’s chief financial officer, said in a conference call with reporters.

G.M. remains dependent on its gasoline-vehicle business, which was primarily responsible for a 24 percent jump in profits for the first three months of the year, to $3 billion. But the company expects to be selling electric vehicles profitably later this year, Mr. Jacobson said.

Focus on Tesla’s earnings report Tuesday was unusually intense after a series of recent events that raised questions about the company’s direction and Mr. Musk’s leadership.

Last week, Tesla’s board of directors disappointed investors who had hoped it would do more to get Mr. Musk to focus on the car business and spend less time on X, where his polarizing comments and affinity for right-wing conspiracy theories have alienated many potential customers.

The board took steps to reinstate a $47 billion pay package for Mr. Musk that a Delaware court had voided. The board also said it would ask shareholders to approve moving Tesla’s corporate domicile to Texas, a change Mr. Musk called for on the day the Delaware court struck down his pay package in January on the grounds that it was excessive and that shareholders were not properly informed when they approved it in 2018.

Neal E. Boudette contributed reporting.

Jack Ewing writes about the auto industry with an emphasis on electric vehicles. More about Jack Ewing

The World of Elon Musk

The billionaire’s portfolio includes the world’s most valuable automaker, an innovative rocket company and plenty of drama..

X: An Australian court extended an injunction ordering the social media platform X to remove videos depicting the recent stabbing of a bishop , setting the country’s judicial system up for a clash with Elon Musk, who has denounced the court’s order as censorship.

A $47 Billion Pay Deal: Despite   facing criticism that Tesla is overly beholden to Elon Musk , its board of directors said that the company would essentially give him everything he wanted, including the biggest pay package in corporate history.

Tesla: Tesla reported that it made significantly less money  in the first three months of the year because of its tepid car sales, reinforcing concern among investors that the company led by Elon Musk is losing ground  in the market for electric vehicles.

SpaceX: President Biden wants companies that use American airspace for rocket launches to start paying taxes into a federal fund  that finances the work of air traffic controllers.

Business With China : Tesla and China built a symbiotic relationship that made Elon Musk ultrarich. Now, his reliance on the country may give Beijing leverage .  

The Musk Foundation: After making billions in tax-deductible donations to his charity, Musk has failed recently to donate the minimum required to justify a tax break  — and what he did give often supported his interests.