The C-drama has grown in popularity over the last few years. Dipping into the story traditions of mythology and soap opera, these television shows are often gripping, explosive, and masterfully told. Netflix might be known for their K-dramas, but don’t forget that there are plenty of great C-dramas also worth checking out! These compelling Chinese TV dramas span all kinds of genres and styles, with special success in the wuxia genre (where ancient heroes battle for honor and justice with swords and flying kicks)....

Many of today’s best-known K-drama series are set in modern times and centered around themes involving high school life, businesses, hacking, luxury, elitism, technology, etc. But one of the subgenre highlights is the historical K-drama. Between the wardrobe designs and the social behaviors and the settings, these series plunge us into the depths of historical Korea and allow us to experience the uniquely engrossing culture of past Korea. From shows that are firmly grounded in a biographical figure to those that incorporate fantastical elements, here are my picks for the best historical K-drama series of all time....

Movies are long and difficult to make, which is why proper planning is so crucial. There are hundreds—even thousands—of cast and crew members involved with lighting, camera, special effects, catering, logistics, and so much more. But it all starts with a script! …except when it doesn’t. What happens when you don’t have a finished script but production must commence? Or when actors keep altering an existing script on the fly? Oftentimes, that’s when improvisation plays a big role—which can be risky, but can also result in a film’s best moments....

The line between a movie and a TV series is continuously being blurred thanks to the explosion in on-demand streaming services and the growing popularity of TV miniseries. Movie franchises are starting to adapt the episodic formula of TV shows to tell deeper and longer stories, while TV series are starting to possess the same cinematic quality of blockbuster movies. Where there used to be a hard line now exists the wonderful TV miniseries, with prestigious filmmakers more willing to take on these ambitious projects, and A-list movie stars more willing to jump aboard these TV miniseries projects....

Adapted television shows will always be faced with that eternal question, one to which every fan—and even non-fans—have an answer: Which is better, the original or the adaptation? And no TV sitcom has had to endure this debate more than the US version of The Office , which adapted the UK version of The Office . Which series was better? The US or the UK? Michael Scott or David Brent?...

With its debut in 2005, the US version of The Office grew and snowballed into one of the most popular TV sitcoms of all time. The show deservedly received a lot of love, and it remains a feelgood fan favorite that’s worthy of repeat viewings. Fans love the cast of lovable characters, with Jim and Pam often toply ranked. Jim Halpert is one of those character types who might draw you in with snappy banter, funny antics, and soft charm, but the more his personality is put under the microscope, the less appealing he appears....

The world of K-dramas is intimidating. As you stare at the long list of K-dramas, you have no idea what to watch first—will it be a cheesy romance, action-packed love story, or a historical drama? Luckily, you’re in the hands of a seasoned expert. K-dramas caught my attention years ago after finding Boys Over Flowers while scrolling through Tumblr. It’s been a wild journey ever since. If you’re new to K-dramas, here are the essential shows to watch first....

Ever since August 1962, generations have grown up knowing that New York is most famous for two things: pizza and Spider-Man. He may not literally be swinging between the skyscrapers, but when you turn on the TV, a gaming console, or the computer, you can see Spider-Man realized right before your eyes. The first Spider-Man TV show aired in 1967—five years after the character’s comic debut—and since then, there have been no fewer than ten more TV series starring the webbed Wall-Crawler....

If you love being scared, video games are one of the best for getting it done—because unlike movies and TV shows, video games are interactive. Terrors await around every corner and your decisions play into your frights. You don’t just watch people in danger. YOU are in danger. And no gaming franchise has had as much of an impact on the horror genre than the legendary Resident Evil series. These zombie-filled shooters combine puzzle-solving with complex lore, resulting in one of the most popular gaming franchises around....

So you really want to play Dungeons and Dragons , but your friend group hasn’t expressed much interest in the game? Should you abandon your friends and try to find a new group of people who share the same hobby as you? While that’s an option, it’s definitely not the one we’d recommend. Related: How to find and make geeky friends What you should do is find a way to get your friends interested in D&D....

Recently, we ran through a fantastic escape room called “Fractured: Remember Me” in Melbourne. After escaping, we had a chance to sit down with Owen Spear, the designer of the room, to learn a bit more about his background, how he designs his escape room puzzles, and plenty of other escape room tidbits. WhatNerd: How did you get into designing escape rooms? Owen Spear, Escape Room Melbourne : I went to Budapest with my ex-partner about six years ago when they had just begun (they started in 2011) and we heard about these escape rooms, and I finally got around to doing one....

The male gaze is one of the pillars of modern feminist theory in film, television, and literature. The idea was conceptualized by Laura Mulvey in 1975 and is still prominent in cinema 50 years on. The male gaze refers to how women are depicted in the world—specifically media—from a heterosexual male’s point-of-view. This depiction is generally hypersexualized and treats female characters as objects for the male protagonists to use. An obvious example would be the James Bond franchise, in which “Bond girls” are seldom more than erotic side characters....

What comes first: the chicken or the egg? The same age-old dilemma applies to anime and manga as well. Before you delve into a particular series—especially if it’s available in both manga and anime formats—you have to make the impossible decision: read the manga or watch the anime adaptation first. Although a certain series might have the same characters, plot, and settings in both manga and anime versions, it’s possible that they both give you completely different experiences....

The 1970s were some of the golden years in Hollywood, a time of revolution and inspiration. In fact, this time period in Tinseltown was so influential—and the films so new and original—that the era garnered a new nickname: New Hollywood. The comedy movies that came out during the 1970s exemplified this fresh identity with stories and characters that were as funny as they were bizarre. They would go on to shape future films—not just comedy but all films—in the 1980s, 1990s, and beyond....

Ah, Hollywood. The home of Western film and the epicenter of the modern movie industry. Sure, most film studios are actually based in Burbank, but the iconic image of the Hollywood sign still stands as a beacon for those seeking fame and fortune. And every so often, Hollywood comes out with a film that actually takes place in Hollywood, whether to poke fun at its tropes or to take a more serious look at the industry’s history, shortcomings, or future....

Robert Zemeckis may not be as widely known as other movie directors like Stanley Kubrick, Quentin Tarantino, or Steven Spielberg. But you might be surprised: Robert Zemeckis may have been the director behind some of your favorite movies of all time. Zemeckis has crafted some of cinema’s most genre-defining films, starting in the 1980s and up through the present era. Have you heard of the DeLorean? A washed-up volleyball named Wilson?...

The term folk horror has been popping up more these days. But what does it mean, exactly? And why is it turning heads? Folk horror is a subgenre of horror where the plot is often developed in a rural setting and the fear comes from aspects of folklore or an unknown entity suddenly disrupting peace. Often, the menace remains hidden and mysterious for a significant chunk of the narrative. The folk horror subgenre engages us with themes of belonging, community, and superstition....

How many times have you heard “You shall not pass!” referenced and parodied in pop culture? It’s an iconic line from an iconic franchise that marked a turning point in cinema. The Lord of the Rings will forever be a special film franchise. Never before had a big screen production captured what fantasy writers had so thoroughly written about in their books. And coming from a writer as brilliant as J....

In the age of TV streaming, there are many platforms you can use to get your daily dose of TV shows and mini-series. While Netflix remains king, Apple TV+ has been catching up with its own great original content. Not keen on acquiring successful IP—as is the strategy of most other streaming platforms—Apple TV+ invests heavily in original content to achieve success and set themselves apart. On the TV side of the platform, there are several shows that are absolutely watching no matter what your tastes are....

In anime, characters are generally designed with outlandishly colored hair. From blue to red to white, no color is off-limits—so it’s no surprise to see so many anime characters with orange hair. Orange is a color that’s often used to highlight a character with a vibrant, headstrong personality. There are plenty of exceptions to that rule, of course, and sometimes orange is just used to make a character stand out from an otherwise massive cast....