If you ask me what I am up to lately, I will tell you that I am probably watching a microdrama. Television has bored me this summer.
And I figure if you’re going to dive headfirst into something, you should do it with everything that you are.
The problem for me is that finding dramas I want to watch is becoming harder because of the AI takeover of dramas. I want to watch real actors, giving me real moments and showing me real emotion. I will admit to you, I watched an AI vertical to understand what people were talking about and how they felt.
All of the men and women in AI verticals look the same; they are clearly ripping off real actors’ movements and dialects, as well as facial expressions. Words are rarely pronounced correctly, and on top of that, I felt no emotion, no connection, or desire to watch. It was bad. Really bad.
But I watched Hannah Lowery’s video about Pucked by My Brother’s Rival and how it was made into AI. That vertical is the reason that I started watching dramas. The AI version was what I watched, and it was an embarrassment. If I had seen that first, I would have never watched microdramas.
Ever.
@hannahloweryofficiall Thank you for supporting me I hope this all makes sense ❤️#puckedbymybrothersrival #microdrama #vertical #ai #actor ♬ original sound – Hannah Lowery
And while I am embarrassed that I watched it, I now understand exactly what Hannah was talking about.
Vertical actors deserve better.
Here are the microdramas we’ve been watching and why we love or hate them.
BOAT JANITOR STRIKES BACK
WHO STARS IN IT: Pablo Kaestli, Anna Stadler, Joseph Girard
PLATFORM TO WATCH IT: DRAMAWAVE
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: For 12 years, Jack is kept down, abused, and forced to only scrub boats by figures who tell him he will never amount to anything more. However, his life changes when his true identity as Blaise, the missing heir of a prominent rowing family, begins to surface. Despite being mocked as a mere “boat boy,” Jack possesses elite, record-breaking rowing skills. He goes head-to-head on the water against privileged rivals like Micah and the Harvard champion rower, Lucien. Supported by Sloan Canfield, Jack fights through the obstacles, uses a childhood scar from a boat propeller to prove his lineage, and reconnects with his real father.
WHY WE LOVED IT: We have our gripes with some things that happen in microdramas – like the unnecessary violence. This one definitely has a lot of that – like what is it that makes all of this slapping necessary? It doesn’t make sense to me. But that aside – the reason why we loved this one is Pablo Kaestli. The actor is really starting out in verticals, and he’s definitely made an impression.
FALLIN FOR THE STRIKER (MY DRAMA)
WHO STARS IN IT: John Jamieson Michaels, Christine Oswald, and Vanessa von Schwarz
PLATFORM TO WATCH IT: MY DRAMA
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: Seven years ago, Vicky and Lucas were deeply in love. Lucas was a young football player about to leave for Real Madrid, and the two planned to build a future together. But Lucas’s powerful father, Xavier, believed Vicky would destroy his son’s career. After an accident leaves Vicky injured and pregnant, she disappears from Lucas’s life under terrible circumstances. Seven years later, everything has changed. Lucas Murray is now a famous football superstar returning to the United States to lead the national team during the World Cup. He is talented, rich, confident, and known almost as much for his scandals as for his goals. Meanwhile, Vicky is now living as Tori, raising their son Noah alone and struggling to pay for his medical treatment. And then fate puts Lucas directly in front of her again.
WHY WE LOVED IT: Have to admit that we didn’t think that we were going to like this one, but we did. The World Cup ended, and watching more football – didn’t think we would. But John Jamieson Michaels can pretty much sell us on anything. The actor’s facial expressions are what make us intrigued (and yes, his acting too). We tuned in for him and Vanessa von Schwanz, but it was the story (though we’ve seen it before) that kept us watching. We loved Vanessa as the villain and Michael as the love interest. The way that they fought was one thing, but it was the way that Michael’s character grew over the series and the way he managed to show it that kept us watching.
STUDY BUDDY
WHO STARS IN IT: Sophia Soto, Noah Andre, Amanda Troya
PLATFORM TO WATCH IT: CANDYJAR
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: Adapted from books on Galatea, the plot follows an artist named Amelia who needs a roommate and agrees to tutor a campus baseball star, Zeke Evans, in biology in exchange for “lessons in love” and confidence
WHY WE LOVED IT: We love a body-positive moment. Look, I do not believe that size is indicative of being worthy of love, but I will be the first one to tell you that a lot of people do. What I loved about this is that Zeke didn’t care about Amelia’s size – he just wanted her to believe in herself. And I think that is important. It shows that a person should be valued for who they are. People need to see themselves in the character, and this was a great representation of that.
GRAYSON
WHO STARS IN IT: Gabriel Jayne and Ashlynn Judy
PLATFORM TO WATCH IT: CANDYJAR
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: When Kassia moves in with her new stepbrother Grayson, their war of pranks and power plays slowly unravels into something neither of them can deny or keep secret. Two broken kids who never expected a real family end up finding love right under the same roof.
WHY WE LOVED IT: Grayson was another one we didn’t think we’d love, but we do. Candyjar has been putting out some really great microdramas and making sure that they feel cinematic. Gabriel Jayne and Ashlynn Judy didn’t have the chemistry we were expecting (which was none) – you can see that it’s opposite attract. However, some may have issues with the “stepbrother trope,” but we didn’t have an issue. They didn’t know each other their whole lives.
Jayne is one of those actors that you can’t help but pay attention to because he’s hard to read. And while some may consider that not to be a great thing, we would disagree. Why? Because his acting style allows the viewer to draw in things that they think happened that led them to that point, or the thing that they are feeling. Somehow it makes them more relatable, and as if you can’t turn away.
KEEPING THE COWBOYS BABY
WHO STARS IN IT: Rebecca Stoughton, Declan Clifford, and Carter Sirianni
PLATFORM TO WATCH IT: REELSHORT
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: Penelope moves away to rebuild her life, taking a job on a local ranch. She connects with the ranch owner, Knox Grant, only to realize he is the powerful, protective older brother of her awful ex, Casey Grant. Penelope becomes pregnant with Knox’s baby. She is then caught between Knox—a devoted, steady green-flag hero ready to protect her—and her vengeful ex, who wants to ruin her life. Through emotional trials and family tension, Knox proves his loyalty through actions rather than empty words, leading to a hard-earned, warm conclusion.
WHY WE LOVED IT: Lately we’ve really loved reading about ranches, ranch life, etc. Give us a cowboy, and we’re set. Carter Sirianni – this is the first thing we’ve seen him in. His character, Knox, is a protector, a fighter, and a man who grows to believe in love. We know that not all women (or men) want to be protected and swept off their feet, but we do. Sirianni made us stop and take notice. What’s the name of that song – Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy?
OFF LIMITS
WHO STARS IN IT: Nick Puya and Bella Mraz
PLATFORM TO WATCH IT: SHORTICAL
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: Caught in the middle of an ongoing gang war between her father and an opposing mafia faction, Anna is put under Chris’ protection after her life is threatened. He’s older and her father’s close friend. She shouldn’t want him, but she does.
WHY WE LOVED IT: Sometimes I think that what I hate the most is the wanting-a-parent’s-friend trope. It’s a lot. TBH, still hated it here, but what I did love is Nick Puya. The actor somehow manages to pull the viewer into whatever role he’s taking on. He’s got to play a strong, driven, charismatic character who also embraces vulnerability perfectly. His no-nonsense attitude in this one – loved the way that he brought Chris to life.
DEATH TOUCH
WHO STARS IN IT: Blake Lewis and Ariel Yasmine
PLATFORM TO WATCH IT: REELSHORT
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: A vertical sci-fi action-romance mini-series streaming on the ReelShort app. It follows Ivy, a young woman raised in a lab because a single touch from her can kill, who is sent to a military high school to serve as a weapon. There, she clashes with Xaden, an elite cadet and her resentful trainer who dares to touch her.
WHY WE WOULD PASS ON IT: When it came to this drama, we wanted to love it. We love the Shatter Me books, so we figured this was trying to be them. That’s enough to make us sit. Add Blake Lewis – we believed that we were going to have a good time. However, this was BAD. So bad that we wanted to request compensation for our time.
It’s not even the actors that are at fault here. It’s the BAD BAD BAD script. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.
It’s really bad.
BEYOND THE HOLY LIE
WHO STARS IN IT: Ashley BeLoat and Armand Procacci
PLATFORM TO WATCH IT: MY DRAMA
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: Isabella Bertolucci is a strict and intelligent nun who has lived inside a church for ten years. She appears calm and religious, but she is secretly carrying fear, guilt, and a terrible secret from her former life. She is strong enough to challenge arrogant men, yet deeply traumatised by what happened before she entered the convent.
Liam Ashford is a rich, irresponsible heir who spends his life partying and creating scandals. After one scandal becomes public, his powerful uncle Thomas forces him to live in the church for six months. Isabella is ordered to become his mentor and teach him responsibility. Their relationship begins with insults, sexual jokes, and a battle for control.
Liam treats Isabella like another woman he can seduce, while Isabella refuses to be intimidated. But as they spend more time together, Liam begins to change. He helps at the church, rejects his old lifestyle, and slowly becomes more responsible.
Isabella also starts to see the pain behind Liam’s arrogant behaviour. He lost his parents when he was twelve and has spent years hiding his grief behind money, alcohol, sex, and parties. Their emotional connection grows when Liam tells her that she deserves forgiveness, even though he does not yet know what she did.
WHY WE WOULD PASS ON IT: TBH, we’re not in to thigs that have to do with religion. A nun? Seducing one? Grandparents are rolling over in their graves. This is trying too hard for the sake of being edgy.
What are your favorite micro-dramas? What have you been watching lately?
