Reviews

A less stupid version of the “Journey of Chong Zi”

Using my personal rating system of "loved," "liked," "meh," & "nah," this is a "liked"/“meh”.

The deets:
Two preteens have a destined encounter that results in the preteen version of our ML (a crown prince) being framed for murder. He is smuggled out of the palace by his would-be baby daddy to go be a novice in a pugilistic sect instead. Our preteen FL, devastated that she was the cause of the crown prince being accused of murder, sends a prayer to the heavens that he will rest in peace which inexplicably causes a curse to be placed on our ML (wtf!?). The curse will not come to pass if he does not meet with her again before his 18th birthday. But, of course, just before he turns 18, she finds her way to his isolated valley within the sect’s territory. Lots and lots of hijinks ensue…

What I liked:
Getting to see Alen Fang in another drama. Though I’d like to see him as an ML for once instead of the eternally doomed SML (always the bridesmaid, never the bride…). I liked that many of the male leads were easy to look at (an not one of them had the stupid thin and long hair pieces in front of their face). I liked Zhu Yan’s character. At first, I wasn’t sure, but she grew on me. I liked that the younger prince got together with his love despite everyone’s best attempts to keep them apart. I like that the General finally got his girl in the end and she (Bai Xue Lu) turned out to be a decent person in the end (I wonder how tall that actress is?). I liked that this was a xuanyuan/wuxia/xianxia because I’m not into historical reality (much less inaccurate history because that, in many ways, is worse by ‘whitewashing’ history; though if I’m going to watch a xuanyuan with Xiao Zhan, can we please just have a season 2 of DouLuo Continent?). I liked that there were distinct sets and costumes as you went to the different ‘kingdoms’ across the land.

What I disliked:
I totally could have done without the would-be baby daddy character (the sect leader [seriously is there some sort of law in China that Han Dong must be cast in at least 50% of active productions at all times!? That dude is in like every other drama out there]). He didn’t know wtf he wanted and kept messing around with the ML’s head in some bizarre effort to get revenge for ML’s mother (his lost love) and then gave up and went and did it himself. He knew that ML wanted to live like a monk but decided to foist a trifling girl (Bai Xue Lu) upon him, hoping that she would somehow inspire enough feelings in him for a cause the ML had no interest in taking up that he would be able to survive an ordeal that literally no other sect member had ever survived before. When ML displayed interest in another woman, at first Sect Leader tried to separate them and hook him back up with the trifling girl. Then he gives up on that and decides that our FL will do. But then as soon as the ML develops real feelings for our FL, Sect Leader decides that its time for our trifling girl to come back upon the scene and take him back. *sigh *
I didn’t like that the trifling girl’s only goal in life seemed to make a powerful marriage. The way her character was written, she was intelligent enough and strong enough not to need a man to get her what she wanted—yet they forced her into the role of b@t$*** crazy jealous woman and made her spend 2/3rds of the drama going after dudes she didn’t like and ignoring the one she did.
Minor point of dislike: If you didn’t know what “shifu” meant, you will by the end of the drama, since its every third word that Zhu Yan says.

Final thoughts:
I stand by the title of this review: If you were disappointed by Journey of Chong Zi and/or found Journey of Flower too much of a case study in toxic relationships, I recommend this one instead. It’s basically the same idea but involves a lot less yelling at the screen.

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Sunshine truly worths the name with a mature and slow- burn romance.

My review is going to be long but it definitely worths your time reading it.

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Plot:
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The plot tells the story of female director who divorced her husband at the age of 36 'cause he is a scumbag. A 26 year old boy fall for her at their very first meeting when they met 10 years back 'cause she is the director who filmed his father for public advertisement which increases his respect towards his father's profession and give him motivation to study arts and design to motivate and aware society toward the hard workers.

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Pace of Story and Chemistry:
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The drama has a slow pace and falls in the category of slow burn romance with many sweet and hilarious moments at times and ends with a happy ending. It kept me hooked to it from the very first episode as I like slow- burn romance very much. There is not much skinship and chemistry between leads is average.

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Acting and Characters:
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Sheng Yang: He is a hardworking, sensible, talented, warm-hearted person and has a great sense of humour . He is good at communication and don't give up easily whether to pursue his love or to build his career on his own. Xiao Zhan did a great job in portraying Sheng Yang with his natural looking acting and amazing emotion delivery just even by his face expressions. This character shows a development from being a little immature to purely mature without losing his basic character traits I mentioned above.
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Jian Bing: She is a brave woman who has courage to divorce her husband in her middle age after being married for 10 years. Her father was also a scumbag like her husband and she witnessed her father's dirty deeds at the age of 12. She told her mother about that but not long after she never seen her mother happy again and witnessed her death. It gives her a trauma and she started to hate her father but hated and blamed herself more for telling all that to her mother and begun to think that all adults' relationship is like this, so it takes her many years to divorce her husband. She is also a warm-hearted person and knows how to deal with tough situations with calmness and intellect. She became a very professional director and started her own company with her husband and best friend, even after divorcing him she kept personal and professional life seperate and continued their cooperation in company. She is a strong character and not like clingy, naive and childish female leads in most C-dramas. Bai Bai He did a praiseworthy job in portraying this character with natural acting.
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Other characters are also pretty good other than the hockey couple, they really get on my nerves and I skipped every time they were on the screen. I don't understand why they were in the drama, just useless and waste of screen time.
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Sheng Yang's parents are very reasonable, understanding and hilarious characters. They showed all the real concerns about relationship and financial problems very well. Sheng Yang's friends also showed a growth in character especially Pan Rou. The thing I don't like in drama is that they portray her scumbag ex-husband and father in a funny way and toned down the seriousness of cheating in relationship.

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OST and Costumes:
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OSTs are average not very good and costumes are decent.

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Conclusion:
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This drama is very down to earth and shows the real challenges in a person's life when it comes to relationship or career with a touch of healthy humour. It doesn't show a fully fantasized world but promotes hardwork, better communication and intellectual decisions. When other dramas just show us the importance of better communication to avoid misunderstandings, this drama tells us how to do it. Purely a mature romance drama. The leads needs each other. For Sheng Yang, Jian Bing brought a ray of increased respect and a new way of thinking in his life and as for Jian Bing, Sheng Yang brought a new hope and happiness in her life after an unsuccessful marriage and childhood trauma.
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I would definitely recommend this drama to give it a try although it may seems to be boring to many people but it relies on deep understanding.
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THE BEST KDRAMA OF 2023 FOR ME.

I know I have not watched yet a lot of kdramas that ppl loved this year (for example the good bad mother etc) but this for me was the BEST kdrama of the year. I loved it so much that I had to write a review even if I rarely do so.
I just found out this was a remake of a chinese drama, I'm not sure if I'll watch that one, just cause I'm curious but all I can say is that no matter that one, this drama was made very good.

I won't make spoiler in this review but I will tell you its a CONFUSING drama, at least for the first 8th episodes. In number 8 you'll start putting most of the pieces together.
On one side it was such frustrating not understanding ANYTHING of what was going on and where all was going to go til the very end but that was what made this drama beautiful.

The acting of Ahn Seop was really amazing on this drama and also all the other actors were very good even if his performance was my fav (if you watched the drama you'll get why I say so).

Only thing i can say is that for me the rewatch value of this i very low. I've rewatched true beauty or Land crushing so many times but this... I'm not even sure I can watch it a second time because when you know and find out everything than its done. You can love or hate the story they invented but when you know it, in my opinion, rewatching it its a bit pointelss since the all point of this drama is that you wanna so desperately to find out whats happening .

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A load of Cheese than I'd like.

Well, this is definitely not a serious drama, the producers made it certain from the looks.
Everything going on in there was super cheesy and unreal, even a fictionalized series should have solid elements of reality to ground the fantasy being induced, however this one is more like eating icing on the cake without ever having the actual cake( I think we all know what happens in the restroom afterwards)

I'm not a fan of corny romantics but yeah I guess I bothered to finish it for the love of kdrama, however this one is definitely not a drama I'd come back to.

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Angers my post-feminist sensibilities - so it's doing a good job

Though the story has potential but terrible character development - especially for second leads who get too much screen time. This is probably the downfall of this drama.

Contrary to popular belief, SFL is actually one of those manipulative and righteous people who end up being a burden on those around them. She moans about her shortcomings (genuinely) and invites the world to release her of any obligation of carrying her own weight, not messing other people's paths, and carries guilt overtly like a ticket to her true desires. In her heart, she's a very righteous and honourable person who does her best - and who could ask for more? Right, she's more than this but this aspect of her character is consistent throughout and is hard to swallow in today's world where we promote resilience, independence, intelligence, equity.... Because she looks like she checks the boxes but in reality doesn't live up to it.

SML has no b***s. If you're over the FL and can't go against your parents to marry a woman with a "poor" background, then stop making excuses for yourself to make yourself feel better. It's all...I wish I could do more but duty (to king/army/family) keeps me bound. Actually, love it when SFL calls it out in front of him.

These two deserved each other but in actuality had very little authenticity and honour. But if they're meant to portray people who lie to themselves about who they are to make themselves feel better, then the writer got it spot on.

Like the casting for ML and FL but their chemistry was a bit dry. Plus, ML and FL did not get a fair amount of screen time post getting together - and why was the FL hanging on to the SML for sooooo long?

Also, FL is supposed to be smart but faced with ML, how come she loses her edge? Is this a case of not bringing out the best in each other?

There's so much more I can say - especially about the uber rushed ending but I'm done wasting any more time on this drama. So, I'm just going to rush to an ending as well.

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Mysteries, puzzles, slow-burn romance, exhilarating action

It's a beautiful drama . The actors all have eye candy faces. Watching this drama feels more like watching a high budget hollywood fantasy movie (even though there aren't that many fantastical elements in this one).
This is one of the few Chinese dramas that I watched where some of the characters make impressive entry scenes at crucial moments to protect the ones they love.
This is also one of the few dramas where I see the way the main female lead shields the main male lead (from hair-breadth-danger )being presented in a glamorous, epic manner. All the shots are excellent because the director has got the timing right while taking shots of all crucial moments.
All the actors and actresses, especially the main male lead looks breathtakingly, ethereally elegant, mesmerising. In the very first shot of the main male lead itself, he looks so handsome that I was at a loss for words. The makeup artists and visual effects editing teams etc must have put in a lot of efforts to make everyone even the most ordinary -looking supporting character look remarkably special. ? In this drama, all main characters look like walking gods and goddesses. I had to check again to ensure that this is a wuxia, not a xianxia. ?
Now, coming back to the main topic, plot revolves around one big prominent sect , 'the Gongs' who calls the shots in everything concerning the martial world, and an equally powerful rival sect, 'the Wufeng' who mainly specialize in factory-production of spies. The spies are all trained and sent with missions to harm the powerful Gongs in one way or the other. The story begins that way...


I was just dissatisfied with three things:
1) the death of female lead's raven: this wasn't necessary. They should've made him live --- not killed that character.
I especially loved the dialogue, "You are the Yun Weishan in my heart! "
Omg that monologue is it's so deep!

2) the death of lady Wuji: really not necessary. They could at least written a more merciful death scene for her(if the director wants a death scene for her that much!)

3) the ending: everything in episode 24 was being perfectly wrapped up. They even showed how the villianous elder brother ended up.
They could've just wrapped up the ending nicely instead of producing a fresh mystery to solve.
Thankfully, Yun Weishan told Gong Ziyu that she has a twin before leaving... So that's some relief. Even if as some viewers say, if it's her twin who takes her place, he'll find out if something is amiss( considering the point that he's observant & smart).
Still, in my opinion, the whole story could've been wrapped up, sealed and ended in this season 1 itself.
Why kill viewers like me with anticipation?

But if I overlook the three points I specified above, everything about this drama is good & unique.
This drama really stands out as a good drama but with an extremely unsatisfactory ending.

There are also too many rules and clan obsession in the story which won't even allow the main lead to venture out --- travel in the outside world.
Too many rigid rules restrain the lead as well main supporting characters.

Would like to watch a season 2 or watch special episodes were the main leads as well as main supporting characters figure out solutions to bend the rigid rules, especially to evade the main problem that prevents the main male lead from travelling to the outside world.
Because it's really impractical if the main lead shuts himself in like that just because the other half of the blueprint in tattoed onto his back.
The progression of the plot including the ending is written out in such a way that it'll be hard for the main male lead as sword weilder to sustain the tradition of never venturing into the outside world forever.

Watched the trailers before watching this drama. From the trailer, understood that this is a wuxia story, so didn't expect much romance.
Still, it'd would have been nice if they could've given more depth for the love felt by both main female leads in the story... The second female lead (shangguan Qian) was really a disappointment in that aspect.
The biggest surprise could be as an audience member, you might feel resentful towards one of the second main male leads, Gong Shang Jue.
But that very character will turn out to be someone you admire the most in the end because he turns out to be almost as gentle and kind as the main male lead, Ziyu. Gong Shang Jue just happens to be a severe, strict character, but who in the end, is like a lighthouse for the some of the important characters in the story, especially the main male lead. He also turns out to unexpectedly have a gentle, kind side which he doesn't like revealing to the world.

And of course, when it comes to the main male lead, Gong Ziyu is the best among all characters in this drama(and this is biased opinion from my side).
He just knows how to handle everything well. He is so well balanced in personality, character.
I was just disappointed with the way he handled the execution news of his foster mom. His inaction there really knocked my breath away, but that aside, the male lead is perfect in every other aspect.

This drama could've have ended with a satisfactory happy ending. Bur at the last moment, the director had to throw the spanner in the works.
Hope there will be special episodes or a season 2 to wrap up the mysterious ending nicely.
By the time you finish watching this drama, you'll be left in suspense... "So, what happened in the end? "
Why does the male lead have that flabbergasted expression? ?

The osts of this drama are real good, especially one of the theme songs, "Bestow dreams". The duet version of that song is even more beautiful.
This is one of the few Chinese dramas where I like some of the osts sung by male singers because all of them sound good.
All in all, each episode of the drama is engaging, filled with mysteries to solve, and the last episode ending with a big suspense (Which is the only flaw of this drama in my pov) .

Regarding the romance and love aspects, the main male lead seem to be the only one fighting for love as a one man army, but by second last episode, the female lead seems to be warming up to the male lead with almost the same intensity...
This makes the ending even more dissatisfactory to watch because you could get concerned about the ending oc the main couple's love story...


When it comes to cinematography, this is one of the best dramas. This drama has beautiful, elegant, powerful action scenes. Watch out for all intense action scenes in episode 22! It's one of the best episodes of this drama with all the important characters coming together in one episode itself to participate in fierce battles.


What you'll love most about this drama is the huge amount of suspense, mysteries. Every episode leaves you wondering about something (and that includes the ending too). ?
By the time you reach the second last episode, you'll end up admiring the smartness of the main male lead and the big, brotherly heart of the second main male lead.

This is also one of the few Chinese dramas where you will enjoy watching the romance of a 'guard' character which is absolutely unique, comical at the same time romantic and full of tenderness.


To sum up, this drama can be summed up in four words: action, mystery, suspense, romance.
Even when the drama ends, viewers will be left with some half answered questions in their heads regarding the female lead's identity, how she acquired her skills etc.

Must give this drama a try if you don't mind watching an unfinished ending.
This drama definitely makes you think as you watch each episode...

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A Must Watch ♥♥♥♥

I watched this drama a while ago and wanted to digest it before writing a review. I have never watched a drama hoping for a tragic ending. However, I do wish for a tragic ending, and even though I watched Good Bye, My Princess (2019) - MyDramaList, I did not feel any inclination to hope for such an ending.

In my opinion, part 1 of this drama deserves a score of 9. I usually rate a drama high if I feel that, regardless of the cons it may have, it will be a very rewatchable drama. It is true that I was very hesitant about watching this drama since I dislike love triangles, but I decided to give it a try because Yang Zi is an outstanding actress who has never disappointed me in the past. My decision to do so was a good one, and I'm glad I did. The story is very atypical. As a viewer, I have found something interesting about the main leads of this show. It seems like they are all damaged individuals, mentally unwell with some childhood trauma and adulthood trauma for some. It is imperative to note that the main characters in this show are flawed. Maybe not in the 2ML. However, their flaws make this show more impactful and that is what attracts the audience to it in the first place.

Below is pretty much a review of what I think about the pairing between the female lead and the 4 male lead characters. It is also what I am looking forward to in part 2. Not much of a spoiler, minor at most.





Spoilers: minor

Yang Zi and Zhang Wan Yi characters: The Prince (1stML)

The relationship between this pair is one of the most complex on the show, if not the most. Since childhood, they have known each other, but were separated and then reunited. They also have the most captivating and emotionally intense scenes on this show. For example, I found the mom-confusion scene where she thought her father's wife was her mother (if you watched you know what I am talking about) to be so powerful that all the other characters felt like extras. These two were the center of the scene and I was speechless the entire time, with tears in my eyes. The assassination attempt scene, the emotions in their eyes, and finally the withdrawal scene were well acted and emotionally charged. I would like to see them in more projects in the future because the chemistry is so natural and enthralling. They are honestly the most impressive actors on this, the others are good, but these two just blend well together.

Romantic Relationship: The Prince (1stML)

A romantic relationship is complicated between these two because they may be related (cousins) or not. Regardless of whether or not they are related, their chemistry is undeniably compelling and captivating. There needs to be more drama between them. As always, I am looking forward to Yang Zi's and Zhang Wan Yi's next projects. This is the first drama I've watched from him. Let me say Zhang Wan Yi is a talented actor and he has definitely won over many fans, me included with his performance in this drama.



Yang Zi and Deng Wei: The Typical 2nd ML (2nd ML)

In actuality, my opinion on this pairing would be quite controversial, and probably would not be well received by some, if one is to be honest, or perhaps others may feel the same way, but I am willing to share my thoughts regardless. In all honesty, the introduction of the 2ML character had some intrigue for me, since there was some air of mystery surrounding his identity and I was really fascinated by that and was looking forward to the reveal, but after the reveal of his identity, his character became very unremarkable and uninteresting. With such other compelling male leads, this character falls short in comparison. I felt like out of the four male leads in this show his story line was just the most bland and generic for such a atypical drama. In terms of chemistry if I am being honest, I didn't feel any not even on a friend level for this pair and their scenes felt repetitive it's almost always the same issue; also, I just didn't feel any chemistry between this male lead and the other characters, he just failed to stand out. However, from the writing and scenes it seems like the writers like him.

Romantic Relationship: The Typical 2nd ML (2nd ML)

If I am being honest, it seems like this is the writers favorite this relationship based on the writing. Honestly, I didn't care for this pair. They bored me.



Yang Zi and Tan Jian Ci characters: The Dark Toxic King (3rd ML)

There is a great deal of controversy and complexity surrounding this relationship. It is undeniable, however, that the chemistry between this pair is raw and explosive. There may be a toxic and abusive nature to their relationship, yet their scenes are electrifying and riveting. When they appear together, you don't know what to expect, like will he bite her neck, throw her off somewhere high or say some crazy ass shit? In spite of that, this is definitely the show's most entertaining relationship, leaving you shocked and speechless. Without this relationship, the show would not have been the same. It would be great to see more collaboration between these two. Having discovered Tan Jian Ci, I am now a fan.

Romantic Relationship: The Dark Toxic King (3rd ML)

Despite the chemistry, you know he's a bad for her, which makes a romantic relationship even more complex. While some people may say he is capable of changing, I don't want it. This is because what is appealing about his character is that he is damaged, but so is the female lead, so I don't know. They have some entertaining scenes, and the chemistry is sizzling, but given the nature of their relationship, I'm not sure how I feel about them ending up together.


Yang Zi and Wang Hong Yi characters: The Friend (4th ML)

In my opinion, the relationship between these two is pretty natural, and it brings a smile to my face whenever I watch them. There is nothing outstanding, but it is enjoyable and fun to watch. There are several scenes where he attempts to woo her in which I really enjoy watching. Although he gave off the energy of a best friend, I could still feel the chemistry between them.

Romantic Relationship: The Friend (4th ML)

I like them together. I wouldn't be mad if they ended up together. I can see them being friends that become lovers if the writers want to take that route. However, I doubt as he is the most sided-lined male lead out of the four.






Spoiler: Minor or Med (LOOK AT YOUR OWN RISK) What I look forward to in part 2:

For Yang Zi character: FL

Very likeable to me. It is safe to say that her character is not a typical lead. She is just as emotionally damaged as the rest of the characters and is not a saint and doesn't shy away from killing. There was a time when she planned to kill her grandfather and all her uncles for her cousin (Zhang Wan Yi character), and she supports his revenge plan in all its phases and is open to him using her. The most accurate way to describe her is that she is driven, smart, reckless, and crafty at the same time. Don't mess with her cousin.

Honestly, if we are aiming for a non-tragic ending, I want her to be alone and get back to medicine while still being friends with everyone. If it is tragic, I see her dying for either Zhang Wan Yi character (she has jump or try to jump in front of him a couple times already when he was attack) or Deng Wei character (she like him). Hopeful in part 2 we learn more about her background and she needs to stop making promises to all these guys. She can't keep it up or fulfill all.


For Zhang Wan Yi character: The Prince (1stML)

I would describe his character as dark, mysterious, vengeful, and maybe stoic except to Yang Zi character as he smiles more and is happy around her. There is something compelling, dangerous and appealing about this character and you want to know more about him and what happened during those missing years. I look forward to his revenge, and I hope for a blood bath.


For Deng Wei character: The Typical 2nd ML (2nd ML)

I'd describe him as spineless, generic, typical nice guy who has issues. I don't really care about this character, but it seems like he might actually be an endgame with the FL inferring from the writing. As for the kid's situation, I hope he finds out about it. I hope there is better writing for the character that doesn't feel repetitive and or not all about the romance with the FL; focus more on that relationship with his brother.

For Tan Jian Ci's character: The Dark Toxic King (3rd ML)

I would say his character is the hot and dangerous guy that your friends and family urge you to stay away from because he is bad for you, and you know it. However, you can't help but seek him out because the chemistry is overwhelming, and you are smitten by his charm, and he can do some kind things at times. Words to describe him are intense, hot and toxic. I call him the toxic king. It would be great to know more about his past and eager to know what his great plan is for his army. I see death knocking on his door.

For Wang Hong Yi's character: The Friend (4th ML)

I would describe this character as someone you can have fun with. He might actually be the happiest male lead out of the four. Out of all the characters I would say he is the most straightforward and safe. In part 2 I want to know more about his past and what role he will play in the Zhang Wan Yi character vengeance plot. I see death knocking on his door.

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Good original screenplay with XZ

Story:
Not your typical older sister and older brother love and romance. Very real, natural and adult drama like it is real life.

Casts:
The ml and fl are great and the chemistry between them are good too. You will love xz more as his fan or will become his fan after watching any of his dramas. He can act in many different roles and always take it to the top notch. In here, he plays a poor, sunshine character in an ordinary loving parents/family and with an aspirational spirit who has secretly love an older woman he met 10 yrs ago. He is hard working, determined and responsible.

Other than the little sister and her bf, all other supporting casts are great and they complement the leads and the story.

Dislike about the drama:
I dislike the little sister and her boyfriend characters. They should not be included and took up too much screen time and really unnecessary to add them in the drama. From the beginning episodes to episode 20, these 2 unnecessary casts took up and had more screen time than the main characters. It almost feels like the drama is promoting them. I don’t mind supporting the new comers but not when they are annoying, unnecessary and taking up more screen time than main leads. After all, most people watched because of XZ.

I’m also very disappointed with the ending as it was rush (kinda predicted because it went from 40 to 36), but again these 2 unnecessary casts took up half the screen time for the last episode. It was very annoying and hard to finish the first 25 mins. The last episode should mainly focus on completing the happy ending story for the main leads, instead of sharing half the screen time with the 2 unnecessary characters in the drama.

Overall, it is still a good drama and XZ doesn’t disappoint!

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Amazing Start, Rushed Ending

With an all star cast, I expected to like this going into it. The premise also got me intrigued with boxers having to become bloodhounds, and I totally enjoyed it! (for the most part) The first 6 episodes to me were perfect, it had the right amount of tension and character moments. The action is AMAZING. The COVID setting is kind of weirdly placed into the story, only coming up once in a while to explain random beats to the story (which could have just been written out in my opinion). What I didn't enjoy so much was the last two episodes. It wasn't bad per-say, but it definitely did not live up to the tension that has built up during the whole series. The pay-off was lackluster, and felt both rushed and dragged out. Rushed because it did not perfectly conclude the series and dragged out because it was sort of slow compared to the beginning of the series. Now, I do know that the main female lead got into controversy and so it may have effected the story (maybe it was towards the end of filming but this is just a guess) which is why the ending felt not complete. Overall, i would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves the action/revenge plot dramas but just prepare yourself for a not-so-fullfilling ending.

On a side note, be wary because this drama has A LOT of blood, There are so many knife fights (especially in episode 6) and it shows the whole stabbing , cutting and blood gushing in full frame.

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Didn’t disappoint

It’s exactly what you expect from a season 2. They didn’t make any unnecessary changes or give crazy plots, they continued with season 1 in season 2 and delivered great stories!

The reason why my rating isn’t 10/10 is because some of the stories were a bit predictable and slow, at the beginning i had a little bit of a hard time continuing it but then i went back to it because i missed the show so much and it was great! I love the actors and the relationships between the characters!

I’m curious if there would be a s3 because of the plotwists they added in the end, if there is, i would definitely watch it!

Worth a watch!

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What's there to love? To hate?

The first episode was a little weird, but it also felt nice when the FL gave them a lesson. It didn't take me long to get addicted! The second episode's misogyny was bizarre. When she requested more, only one woman was called in! The sound effects were good and added to the humor. It reminded me of the old-school romance K-dramas.
I read a comment that someone made and I couldn't agree more, I felt like the last 2 episodes were rushed. We didn't need a scandal near the end!

I really seemed to love the two main leads, because of how head-strong they were. But when they opened up, they were also nice and sweet!

What could've been better?
I really hated the sad reality that was shown after one scandal, most didn't want to be seen around that person without knowing the full details. Hate the negative news; there are or will be some people in your life who thrive on negativity, and I got the impression that those were the guys. It seemed like we didn't know much about the background of the second male lead; we only learned later who exactly the woman was who had suggested getting married if he would still be single in his 40s. Honestly, I hated the boss of that firm, because of favoritism when FL was announced to be dating the VIP client he started acting so kind towards her but when things didn't go as planned, he bashed FL.

Why not 9.5 or 10? Because I believe there were K-dramas released in 2023 that were better than this one, but it doesn't mean this one wasn't amazing. I felt that K-dramas normally only show 1 kiss scene, 1 date, then marriage and kids(optional), but this one showed more chemistry between them which I enjoyed very much! It was great, something I haven't seen in a while!

Should you watch it? Up to you!

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Absolutely worth watching

The first episode in my opinion was a bit rushed and I was there contemplating if I should continue watching it. But trust that you shouldn't judge a series by it's first episode because afterwards it turned into one of the most amazing kbl series out there. I just want to acknowledge the fact that Korea has come so far with BL since their first series in 2020.
This series was amazingly portrayed, the acting was great, the actors are adorable/handsome and the storyline of both couples were amazing. I totally recommend watching this series because it gives off such a soft heartwarming and also a bit of twist and feeling of sadness towards the end which is something I always enjoy especially when there's a happy ending in the end.
Both couples were amazing and it didn't seem like either couple was the second couple, more like both were the main couples beacuse of equal screentime.
I 100% recommend watching this especially since you can watch it in one day and just set your mood in a positive way since it's a fun and entertaining series that makes your heart flutter, gives you utter shock because of how good the kisses are(lol) and because of the twist of sadness that turns out to be ok in the end.

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House of cards.

My Journey to You is dark, intricate and suspenseful wuxia that hones in on Wufeng spy Yun Weishan's mission to sneak into the Gong family's heavily guarded mountain stronghold. This is a once in two decade opportunity, as the Gong family holds a bride selection event for their young masters who have come of age. A shocking twist thrusts Gong Ziyu, the least capable young master, to the helm of the family. He is clearly unequal to the task and must prove himself worthy before the seemingly invincible Gong family folds like a house of cards under the force of internal and external challenge.

Shocking murders that rock the foundations of Gong family just as Wufeng spies slip through the gates. The whydunit is quite clear from the get go. By elimination and a few clues, most of the mysteries including Wuming or Anonymous's identity, are easy to solve. The mysteries look more complex than they really are because many other sub-plots unfold at high velocity. The key is not to over think; the straightforward answers are usually the right ones. The antagonist reveal comes late in the story after the facts are stale and the long expository style gives a sense of anti-climax at the end. It may have been better to resolve the internal conspiracy prior to facing the external challenge. Nonetheless the mystery sub-plots are fairly tight and engagingly woven into the external plot of this dark wuxia.

The real guts of the main plot centres around the Gong family and the secret that they vowed to safeguard for all time. It is no fun to be a Gong; stuck on an isolated, toxic mountain and locked in an existential battle with their arch enemy Wufeng. All of the young masters of the Shang (weapons), Jue (commerce), Zhi (poison) and Yu (defence) lines shoulder many responsibilities from a young age. All except the self-indulgent and spoiled Ziyu who has a father, foster mother and older brother to lean on. It is no wonder that Shangjue and especially Yuanzhi resent Ziyu and demand he prove his mettle. The real irony is Sword Wielder is the most sucky job that comes with a butt ugly tattoo and life imprisonment on that dreadful, suffocating mountain. Not to mention the exhausting chore of trying to stare, glare or scowl down Shangjue and Yuanzhi only to be torpedoed by one of Zishang's whacky, mind boggling non-sequiturs that destroy any crushing come back! As much as I was riveted by the Gong family soap opera, it is the mysterious denizens of the back mountain that broke my heart with the intensity and absoluteness of their obsessions. This drama has the most absurdly gorgeous, eccentric, layered and memorable cast of characters.

While romance is always a feature, it is never what this kind of dark themed wuxia is built around, so conventional romance watchers are bound to be disappointed. Both Weishan and Qian are spies on a do or die mission. If they have love brains, they'd have been long dead spies. By design, Shangjue and Qian's relationship is more interesting because Shangjue is a more cynical and questioning character than Ziyu. He is a much more difficult target and this forces Qian to take more risks and thus reveal more of herself to captivate him. It is quite clear there is an intense attraction, that they got their hooks into each other. It is a dark and fascinatingly toxic relationship where it is left for the viewer to decide whether and to what degree they actually fall in love.

In sharp contrast, Ziyu is naive and unquestioning. Weishan is his first love and he falls for her like a ton of bricks, absolutely and unconditionally. The feeling may be intense and pure but it is also uncomplicated and not that differentiated. The bigger problem is that Weishan is by design an elusive character. She does not have to reveal much about herself to reel Ziyu in and so for the most part, she remains a blank character. By the end of the drama, she is still so much a mystery that it is difficult for viewers to be that invested in her and thus the main romance. Yun Weishan is the main character but because she is so hidden, it is as if there is no main character or CP that anchors the story. For the most part, this feels a story about many characters told from many different points of views. To me, this is the biggest shortcoming in the narrative that is saved by the presence of many other fully realised characters. This is not completely a bad thing because it allows the entire spectacular cast, and notably Cheng Lei, Lu Yuxiao and Tian Jiarui, to really shine without taking away that much from Yu Shuxin and Zhang Linghe. All of the actors got the screen time their characters deserve and deliver all around strong performances.

In terms of cinematography, breathtaking action scenes and stunning aesthetics, this drama is everything I expect of Guo Jingming and more. He is the ultimate connoisseur of male beauty and truly immortalises all of these actors, male and female at the peak of their gorgeousness at their most flattering camera angles. Yue (Moon) Gongzi was the one that stood out for me in this visual feast and his love story moved me most - I'd have gone to the moon and back for him any day of the week! Despite some holes, I am overall very satisfied with the writing. I much enjoyed the witty repartee, the foreshadowing and the layers in the dialogue and many hidden clues in the form of riddles and homonyms that are embedded in the script.

I actually quite like the ending epilogue which has caused quite a bit of consternation and heated discussion among viewers. This is a plot driven story so none of the main characters are the end game. Both main plot lines converge to deliver a very complete ending in terms of th narrative, which is merely one mission or chapter in the saga of Wufeng's longstanding rivalry with the Gong family. The end epilogue closes with just the right dark and chilling note that upon reflection was long foreshadowed, makes sense and is completely in character. As such, I am very happy to rate this 9/10.

I will elaborate further on the ending epilogue in a spoiler below but please don't read it until you have finished watching this drama. This drama is best enjoyed without spoilers so please don't scroll down until you are done watching.










WARNING!!! Major ending spoiler below!!!















Yun Weishan returns to Wufeng to face the music because her work is not done. The biggest clue is that she is not that surprised to find Wufeng waiting for her. She allows Ziyu to think she chose freedom over him, so that he does not look for her and endanger himself and his duty to protect the Infinite Fire. Beyond that, she also knew the note was not from Yasi and possibly she always knew about her twin. More than the Fortnight Flies, that may have been Wufeng's real hold over her. If you rewatch the opening scene, it is very suggestive. Yasi quickly reassures her that the Yun family was just knocked out and not harmed. So it is important to Weishan they are not harmed yet she is not curious enough to even look at the bride she is replacing. Why? Because it is her twin, she already knows what she looks like.

The bigger reason she returns to Wufeng is revenge. She is probably quite safe from Wufeng because everyone that knows of her betrayal is dead and Qian was the one who actually leaked all of the information that lured Wufeng in. She told Jin Fan the truth about Zhuomei, just not the whole truth. She may even be Zhuomei's daughter. That is why she was taught all of Qingfeng's top martial arts but Qian was not. Neither of them even got close to Dianzhu/Wufeng's leader so they could not have learned Qingfeng sect's top martial arts from Dianzhu. Weishan probably joined Wufeng to avenge Zhuomei and possibly also free her sister. She simply could not stay with Ziyu in Gongmen because her work is not yet done. But the first chapter of her story can be considered complete.

A second season probably reunites Weishan with Qian because Dianzhu is their common enemy. This is also why Qian leaves Gongmen, she also has a mission more important than love. Another season could well take place entirely outside of Gongmen so it is not clear the entire cast needs to return. Given how popular the Gong family is with audiences however, my guess is if they can reunite everyone they will bring it all back to Gongmen. But they can also continue it outside of Gongmen with only Shangjue returning or Ziyu returning after handing the reins over to Shangjue. This is very smart of Guo Jingming. He left all his options open. Including the option of not proceeding with another season.

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olay etrafında dönüp duran karakterler?

Ara verdiğim için izleyemediğim bir diziydi, bende yazın son günlerinde bu diziye başladım. Bu dizi aynı zamanda hem büyüleyici hem de kafa karıştırıcıydı. Gizem atmosferi her bölümde kendini hissettiriyor, ama karışık olay örgüleri ve mantıksız karakterlerle birazcıkk kötü bir durumda.

Benim için bazı olumlu şeylerle başlayalım:
İlk olarak kadro çok güzeldi sevdiğim oyuncuları toplanmış bir şekilde görmek beni mutlu etti. Bu seriden keyif aldığım şeyler, iyi kurulmuş bir ruh hali, harika aksesuarlar (o orkide çiçeği çok gerçekçi görünüyor) ve ayrıntılı sanat eserleriydi. Bir olay örgüsü olarak bu çiçek büyüleyici bir şekilde gerçekçi (tabii ki asla solamayacağına dair inançsızlığı bir kenarıya bırakalım).

Yukarıdaki unsurlara rağmen, bu seri çok düzgün olamıyor.

Tüm karakterler mantıksız olay örgüsünün etrafından geçiyor gibi görünüyor ve karakterler arasında sıfır gelişme var. (yani neden In-hye ve Hyo-rin bu kadar iyi arkadaşlar? neden Do-il In-Ju'yu korumak istiyor?) Bazı karakterler, sadece çalışma süresini doldurmak için önceki bölümlerden çok farklı davranma eğilimindeler. Ana karakterimize neden önemli olduğu konusunda pek bir açıklama yapılmadı, sorulduğunda herkes bu soru etrafında dans ediyor gibiydi. Karakterler arasında etkileşim olsaydı bu seri kesinlikle daha çabuk biterdi.

Olay örgüsü, birçok unsurun aynı anda gerçekleşmesi nedeniyle karmaşıktı, olayları düzgün bir şekilde birbirine bağlamadı. Hikayeyi devam ettirmek için karakterlerin uzun açıklamalarının ardından bize birçok güzel görüntü gösteriliyor. Bana bu seriden ne hatırlıyorsun deselerdi eminim sadece mavi orkide derdim.

Tarihsel olayların sadece olay örgüsü için kötü kullanımından bahsetmiyorum bile. Bunun için zaten eleştiri almış bir seri.

Genel olarak bu dizi, birçok insanın bir hikaye üzerinde işbirliği yapmak için bir araya geldiğini ve hikayenin tam olarak nereye gitmesini istediklerin karar veremedikleri hissi veriyor. Çoğu kişi için etkili bir dizi olsada mantıksal açıdan eksiği olan bir diziydi.

Sanat, sahne ve dekor açısından gayet güzel.
Ne kadar karmaşık şeyler olsada izlerken keyif aldığımı söylemeden edemem. Finale az kalmışken hızlandığı için çok heyecanla izledim son bölümleri. Kısaca konuyu başta uzatıp sonda patlatıyorlar. Güzeldi güzel

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A COMFORT WATCH!

Sunshine by my side has been one of those dramas that makes you feel a thousand of emotions...it warms your heart but at the same time makes you cry, it has been diverse and educational plus realistic considering that it touches topics that are in our real world.

It shows you imperfect characters having real and relatable struggles, it gives you a glimpse of family and friendship as well as romance...it shows you hardworking individuals who face disappointments and put them selves together and this was the charm of the series.

From a well balanced realistic heart warming and educational plot, to amazing well thoughtout dialogue to amazing characters written with imperfections and struggles which made them realistic to managing to throw in some light comedy amidst the heavy plot, to the actors and actresses who each for one was given enough time to shine and relate to the viewers to this relaxing cinematography to the soothing emotional osts to the natural chemistry between the that gave me comfort as a viewer to a matual relationship between the leads....this drama met all my expectations despite starting it without any...Iam gonna miss it so much...

It has been a ride that Iam glad I started and now that it has ended Iam really feeling empty.
So don't think twice if you want some thing different then SUN SHINE BY MY SIDE is that DIFFERENCE ...

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