Television series
A Smile is Beautiful
- Romance
- Light-hearted
A witty Chinese rom-com about a brilliant gamer and a campus prince who falls for her gaming prowess first, her looks second. Equal parts cosy university life and online gaming adventure, with genuine chemistry between leads who actually seem to enjoy each other's company. Perfect if you want romance that doesn't take itself too seriously but still means something.
If you liked this
Crash Landing on You2019
A North Korean army officer and South Korean heiress forced together by circumstance discover they're perfectly matched. Same blend of swoony romance, comedy that lands, and the pleasure of watching two people genuinely fall for each other's character.
But At ten episodes it feels slightly stretched. The second half leans harder into sentiment than the first, which some find cloying.
Strong Woman Do Bong Soon2017
A woman with superhuman strength pretends to be weak for a video game CEO who's terrified of violence. The chemistry between leads is electric, and the show balances rom-com warmth with genuine emotional stakes without ever losing its playfulness.
But The crime subplot in the second half diverts energy from what you came for. Some plot threads resolve messily.
Her Private Life2019
A woman hiding her fangirl life as a curator falls for her museum's director. Extremely charming, funny about obsession without mocking it, and the leads have a rapport that makes every scene feel like eavesdropping on something real.
But Workplace dynamics occasionally feel thin. If you find fandom humour grating, the show won't convert you.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from A Smile is Beautiful
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
The King's Avatar2017
Both centre romance that blooms between two gamers through shared competitive excellence and strategic thinking, not despite it.
A pro gamer banned from competition mentors a younger player through an online fantasy MMO. Animated series that takes gaming culture entirely seriously—strategy sessions are genuinely tense, and the relationship builds through respect for skill first. What A Smile is Beautiful daydreams about, this executes with full commitment.
But Chinese animation has different visual conventions; if you need smooth Hollywood animation, the look takes adjustment. Heavy exposition about game mechanics can feel impenetrable if you've never played MMOs.
More like this (5)
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo2016
Two athletes at a sports university support each other through injury, doubt, and ambition. Has that same campus warmth and the pleasure of watching people root for each other before romance even arrives.
But The latter episodes sacrifice momentum for melodrama. A few late-game conflicts feel manufactured.
Business Proposal2022
A woman pretends to be her friend to scare off a suitor, then falls for the guy herself. Brisk, smart, and genuinely funny. Two leads who banter like equals and never stop respecting each other's minds.
But Shorter format means character work sometimes gets shortchanged. The workplace setting is more window dressing than genuine world.
Put Your Head on My Shoulder2019
Adapted from the same author as A Smile is Beautiful, so the DNA is similar: gaming elements, campus setting, a woman who's competent and unimpressed. Cosy and earnest without trying too hard.
But Feels slight beside its source material's ambitions. The gaming elements are more aesthetic than central.
Hikaru no Go2001
Both understand that romance between talented people flows from admiring how the other person *thinks* and *solves problems*, and that shared obsession with a craft is its own form of intimacy.
A boy discovers an ancient Go master's spirit in a stone and becomes obsessed with the board game. Japanese anime that understands passion—specifically how mentorship, rivalry, and deep respect for a craft can fuel everything else. The romance is subtle but real because both characters are devoted to excellence.
But It's about a 2,500-year-old board game, not video games. Very episodic; pacing can feel glacial. Assumes no prior knowledge of Go but expects patience while you learn.
Superbad2007
Both understand that young romance worth watching is about people who like each other's company and see each other clearly, and that comedy comes from recognising yourself, not from mocking the lovestruck.
Two high school friends navigate a party, rejection, and whether they're growing apart. Raw comedy about attraction and friendship that refuses to separate them. The two leads have chemistry that feels genuinely lived-in, and the film never punches down at either of them.
But Raunchy humour and foul language throughout. American high school setting and sexual frankness might feel miles from the show's tone. At ninety-one minutes it's also much denser than a TV hour.
