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This week on the DramaMeans Podcast, Mel and Ryan dive into the past…literally. As we examine a sequel to the Hong Kong TVB drama from 25 years ago, we question if “Back to the Past” has anything going for it, other than the nostalgia for it's predecessor “Step into the Past?” We also discuss if alternate endings have a place in story telling. Cast: Louis Koo - Hong Siu Long Raymond Lam - Chiu Poon / Ying Ching / Emperor Qin Jessica Hester Hsuan - Wu Ting Fong Sonija Kwok - Kam Ching Kevin Chu - Hong Bo Yi / Hong Yu Michael Miu - Ken

This week on the DramaMeans Podcast, Mel and Ryan take a look back at a year filled with comedies, dramas, and even a little horror. We discuss what we liked, what we didn’t, and what we never want to see again.

This week on the DramaMeans Podcast, Mel and Ryan dive into 2025 Thai period series, "Shine." We see if the filmmaker’s storytelling could live up to the ambitions of a politically explosive subject matter, and the skill of their very talented cast. Cast: Tanwa - Mile Trin - Apo Krailert - Son Yuke Naran - Euro Victor - Peter

This week on the DramaMeans Podcast Mel and Ryan discuss why the time loop plot device of the 2025 Chinese Drama, "Mobius," was a great evolution of the Groundhog Day concept... but at the same time doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. At least from a science perspective... Cast: Ding Qi Qi - Bai Jing Ting An Lan - Janice Man Mo Yuan Zhi - Song Yang Jiang Yu Wen - Liu Yi Jun

This week on the DramaMeans Podcast, Mel and Ryan discuss the 2025 Thai drama, "Reset," and why a main character must have a plan...even it’s a bad plan. For goodness sake, please come up with something! We also debate how romantic chemistry can sometimes skew toward creepy. Armin - Pond Thada - Peterpan Thiwthit - Bom Ren - First Pharit - Winner Veynai - Alexander Janine - Intanont Lilly - Namyard

In a DramaMeans Podcast first, Mel and Ryan discuss a French period drama that dabbles into witchcraft and religious themes. We also wonder, aloud, why Netflix’s, "Nero: The Assassin" needed to be kinda gross in order to tell their story. Cast: Nero - Pio Marmaï Perla - Lili-Rose Carlier Taboury Hortense - Alice Isaaz La Borgne - Camille Razat Rochemort - Louis-Do de Lencquesaing

This week on the DramaMeans Podcast Mel and Ryan take a look at past dramas to examine break up scenes done right and debate whether the 11th episode curse is truly a bad trope or just lazy writing.

This week on the DramaMeans Podcast we question whether the filmmakers behind Japanese drama, "Learning to Love," really understand their own show, while also asking whether a homeroom teacher is really responsible for her students 24/7. Cast: Ogawa Manami - Kimura Fumino Kaoru (Takamori Taiga) - Murakami Raul Maito Kawahara Yoji - Nakajima Ayumu Machida Momoko - Tanaka Minami Ogawa Seiji - Sakou Yoshi Ogawa Sanae - Tsutsui Mariko Takechiyo - Sakaguchi Ryotaro Sakura Eita - Mikata Ryosuke Sawaguchi Natsuki - Hayasaka Miu

This week on the DramaMeans Podcast we discuss the Thai supernatural BL thriller, "Khemjira," and debate whether scary stories need to actually be really scary. We also try to figure out how reincarnation curses work while not getting too confused along the way. Cast: Khem - Namping Peem - Keng Jet - Firstone Charn - Tle Ramphueng - Green

This week, the DramaMeans Podcast dissects Chinese period drama, "Coroner’s Diary," to find out whether a room full of dead bodies really put a damper on the lead actors’ romantic chemistry. Cast: Qin Wan / Shen Wan / Wan 'er - Landy Li Yan Chi (7th Prince) - Ao Rui Peng Yue Ning - Shen Yu Jie Yan Li - Yu Cheng En Bai Feng - Cheng Hong Xin Fu Ling - Wan Lu Qing

DramaMeans takes a look at Japanese rock music drama Glass Heart to see if it has the rhythm of a hit, or is a tragic tone deaf flop. We also question the need to wedge romance into a story where it doesn’t belong, while simultaneously wishing for romance from Mel’s favorite “ghost ship.” Cast: Naoki - Satoh Takeru Akane - Miyazaki Yu Sho - Machida Keita Kazushi - Shison Jun Toya - Suda Masaki

This week on the DramaMeans Podcast, Mel and Ryan give a full check up to Korean Drama “Resident Playbook,” the follow up to the highly successful “Hospital Playlist.” We discuss the differences in character and tone throughout the series, as well as coming to the realization that perhaps not even the most seasoned doctors in the hospital… really know as much as they are letting on. Cast: Oh Yi Yeong - Go Youn Jung Pyo Nam Gyeong - Shin Shi Ah Um Jae II - Kang You Seok Kim Sa Bi - Han Ye Ji Koo Do Won - Jung Jun Won

The DramaMeans podcast is back to take a deep dive into the 2025 Chinese BL drama “Revenged Love.” Join us as we decide whether or not trying to seduce someone as part of an elaborate revenge plan is toxic, adorable, or somewhere in between. Cast: Wu Suo Wei - Zi Yu Chi Cheng - Tian Xu Ning Guo Cheng Yu - Zhan Xuan Jiang Xiao Shuai - Liu Xuan Cheng Wang Shuo - Liu Jun Wang Zhen - Wang Yu Qiao Yue Yue - Sun Qian Yu

In this episode of the DramaMeans Podcast, we take a serious look at the very unserious 2025 Thai Drama “Break-up Service,” which gives a new meaning to the phrase, “All’s fair in love and war.” We also discuss why sometimes a show is allowed to do everything from cheesy physical humor to over the top product placement and still be considered a quality drama. Summary: Desperate for work, an idealistic young woman finds employment with a company that purposely breaks up couples that are in love. To make things more complicated, she ends up teaming with the most ruthless and jaded partner the company has to offer…who just might turn out to be the man of her dreams. Cast: Boss - Off Jued - Jorin Oat - Tay Nut - Godji T - Foei

This week on the DramaMeans podcast, Mel and Ryan dive into the 2025 Japanese live action adaptation of “Cells at Work” to discuss whether or not the feature film lived up to the clever anime. We also ask who the target audience is for the recent trend of live action remakes of popular animations or whether it’s just a studio cash grab. Cast: White Blood Cell (U-1146) - Satoh Takeru Red Blood Cell (AE3803) - Nagano Mei NK Cell - Naka Riisa Killer T Cell - Yamamoto Koji Niko - Ashida Mana Dad - Abe Sadawo Takeda - Kato Seishiro Summary: An experienced white blood cell befriends a naive red blood cell as she tries to navigate her new duties delivering oxygen to the body without getting hopelessly lost. But when a mutated cell creates a dangerous cancer, it’s all hands on deck to save the body at all costs.