How We Rate | C-Drama Compass

We don't give dramas a number out of 10. Instead, every completed drama gets a verdict, an ending label, and a set of trope tags. Here's exactly what each one means.

Verdicts

A verdict answers one question: is this drama worth your time all the way to the end? Only completed dramas get one, and only from an editor who has watched it.

Must Finish. Strong from start to finish, and the ending holds up.
Worth It. Good overall, with weak spots most viewers will forgive.
Skim the Middle. A strong start and finish with a slow stretch in between. We always list the episodes you can skim, for example "skim episodes 18–24."
Safe to Drop. The drama loses its way later on. We always name the episode where it's most satisfying to stop.

Some verdicts also note where a show "gets good," for viewers deciding whether to push past a slow opening. Dramas still airing get a first impression instead, labeled with the episode we watched up to. It is not a verdict and can change.

Ending labels

The ending label describes where the main couple stands when the main story ends. It is a minor spoiler, so it stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.

Happy Ending (HE). Both leads are alive and together at the end, and the main plot resolves positively.
Sad Ending (BE). The leads are permanently separated, or at least one of them doesn't survive, with no reunion in the main story.
Open Ending (OE). The main story doesn't make the couple's fate clear and leaves it to the viewer.
Bittersweet. Positive overall, but at a heavy cost, such as memory loss, years apart, or a sacrifice before a reunion. A calm, mutual parting also counts.
Happy (in extras). The main story ends sad or open, but an official extra, bonus scene, or special clearly gives the couple a happy ending.

We also flag when the original novel ends differently, and when fans strongly disagree about which label fits. Each label shows whether our editor watched the ending or relied on sources.

Spoiler levels

Everything outside a spoiler section is safe: it only covers what you'd learn in the first episode or two.

Level 1: ending type. The ending label and whether the novel ends differently.
Level 2: the outcome. Who ends up together, who survives, and major identity reveals, in two to four sentences.
Level 3: full details. A complete account of the ending and the novel's ending.

Use the spoiler setting in the site header to hide everything, show ending types only, or show all.

Trope tags

Tropes describe a drama's setup and story patterns. We tag up to eight per drama, and only when the trope is central to the story.

Enemies to Lovers: the leads start as rivals or opponents.
Contract Marriage: the leads marry on agreed terms, not for love.
Slow Burn: the romance builds gradually over many episodes.
Reincarnation: characters live multiple lives across the story.
Time Travel: a character moves between eras.
Strong Female Lead: the heroine drives the plot with her own goals.
Second Lead Syndrome: the second male or female lead wins viewers' hearts.
Revenge: a lead's main goal is payback for a past wrong.
Hidden Identity: a lead conceals who they really are.
Fake Relationship: the leads pretend to be a couple.
Childhood Sweethearts: the leads knew each other as children.
Bodyguard Romance: romance between a protector and the person protected.
Found Family: unrelated characters become a close family.
Forbidden Love: rules, status, or worlds keep the leads apart.
Cold Male Lead: a reserved, aloof hero who slowly warms up.
Master and Disciple: romance or bond between teacher and student.
Immortal and Mortal: a deity or immortal and a human.
Love Triangle: two characters compete for the same person.
Second Chance: former lovers get another try.
Transmigration: a character wakes up in another body or a fictional world.
Rebirth: a character relives their own life from an earlier point.
Political Scheming: court or power struggles drive the plot.
Harem Politics: rivalry among an emperor's consorts.
Cross-Dressing: a character disguises themselves as another gender.
Age Gap: a notable age difference between the leads.
Opposites Attract: leads with clashing personalities fall for each other.
Boss and Employee: romance across a workplace hierarchy.
Sweet Romance: light, affectionate, low-angst love story.
Tragic Romance: the love story carries heavy loss and pain.
Amnesia: a character loses their memory.
Body Swap: two characters trade bodies.
Esports: competitive gaming is central to the story.
Medical: set among doctors or in hospitals.
Detective: investigation and case-solving drive the plot.
Martial Arts Sect: life inside a martial arts school or clan.
Demon and Immortal: romance across the demon and immortal realms.
Arranged Marriage: families or rulers decide the match.
Underdog: an overlooked character rises against the odds.
Coming of Age: young characters grow up over the story.
Brotherhood: deep loyalty between sworn friends or brothers-in-arms.

Outside ratings

We show Douban and MyDramaList ratings side by side, with the date recorded. We never average or merge them, and when they differ by a point or more, we explain why. Viewer votes on our site are shown separately from both.