Ongoing 16/40
The Longest Promise
1 people found this review helpful
by mawood
Sep 18, 2023
16 of 40 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 4.0
Story 5.5
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 5.5
Rewatch Value 1.5
This review may contain spoilers

Disappointing

Not sure if I'll drop a spoiler, so I'm putting the warning up.
Ok, I love Chinese costume drama.... and of course I have some favorite actors. I have only stuck around this long because of the ML. The FL though is grating on my last nerve.
I don't know if I'm the only one, but she greatly portrays the same characteristics of female villains. I find her pretty unlikeable.
I'm still trying to finish this, only because I have nothing else to watch right now.
Maybe things will improve, doubtful though.
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Completed
My Journey to You
1 people found this review helpful
by Dhru
Sep 18, 2023
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 7.5
This review may contain spoilers

Amazing cinematography

This drama has amazing aesthetic and cinematography. Every scene is a cinematic masterpiece. The set is beautiful, unique and the approach taken to add the set in the scene was very thoughtful. Amazing styling. All the actors had particular costumes and accessories that was unique to their character. Very good performance by all the actors - leads as well as supporting actors. Despite this I feel the story is a bit disjointed at times. I wish they could have improved on the story and built up the climax. And that ending...... not a fan of open endings.
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Ongoing 7/32
Love Is an Accident
13 people found this review helpful
Sep 18, 2023
7 of 32 episodes seen
Ongoing 2
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 3.5

Xing Fei is the greatest of this era

This era of actresses we have Yang Mi, Ju Jingyi, Dilieriba, Yang Zi, Bai Lu, Zhao Lusi who all are in brilliant dramas....

Where does Xing Fei rank?.... my opinion Xing Fei what doesn't elevate her the top of the rankings is her smaller fan base, but why do these ladies have bigger fan bases?.... it's their ability to draw in people to their concerts, these ladies are excellent live performers but the acting level of some is just okay.... Some of their dramas are unwatchable.... I have given up watching Yang Zi & Ju Jingyi dramas....

Xing Fei might not be good singer, not be great dancer but her acting skills are the best.... it the cute smile, the cute sad faces, the charm she has.... She has the ability to get the best of the cast she works with especially the male lead... Xing Fei has been in like 5-6 classics. Most popular actresses are only in 1 or 2 classics....

Lin Yi, Daddi Tang & Xu Kai Cheng are male leads who are in alot of bad dramas....
Hu YiTian was in ALSB which is a modern classic & few other decent dramas so will cut him some slack but think think him being with Xing Fei in Sharpshooter was what he needed as some dramas he was Main Lead during that time were hit and miss.... Point Xing Fei elevates these guys to another level with her pure skill & charm....

Xu Kai Cheng was in Young & Beautiful with Crystal Zhang which was a horrible drama.... Example of an unlikeable Male & Female Lead on-screen now to this drama both leads being fun & likeable....

Xing Fei best drama for me was 'Miss Crow & Mr Lizard'.... why?.... We have a grand master in Allen Ren possibly one of the best actors of this era alongside Xing Fei which both delivered a classic.... am I surprised Allen Ren wanted to do a second drama with Xing Fei? No.... That performance elevated him to the top & he won't forget it was alongside Xing Fei....

Allen Ren is happier now might get released sooner as possibly wasted his time filming with Song Zuer & after that scandal she was part of , now that drama might never get released....

What makes this drama good?....
I think it's the comedic storyline that is perfectly executed by the cast & especially the leads.... this is seriously non-stop laughs....

Xing Fei is leading the comedy with the humour & Xu Kai Cheng is complimenting the humour with the comedic reaction to Xing Fei.... seriously it's perfect.... I watch heaps of rom-coms were the humour is never funny.... some of these actors/actresses need to watch this drama to see how to properly execute it.... surely the director & writers happy seeing the comedy come to life way they intended it to.....

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Dropped 4/24
Just Dance
4 people found this review helpful
Sep 18, 2023
4 of 24 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 3.5
Story 3.0
Acting/Cast 6.5
Music 1.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Boring, not much to say

I watched this drama to give Ding YiYi another try. She was in Sweet Sweet with Zhao Yiqin one of my favourit actors....

He was just ok in that drama which surprised me as he usually gives excellent performances but when I compared Ding YiYi to his previous female leads I found she didn't really give good performance herself....

This drama, I gave it a go but the storyline is boring, acting is just ok & it's obvious these actors are not ballet dancers but I will say they did give good efforts.....
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Completed
Mouse
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 18, 2023
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 3.5

Is it worth watching..

Started off watching this drama and it was fast moving..plenty of twists to get you thinking..the acting was superb and the storyline it seems excellent but there was that much going on that I got confused part way through.I love meatier Korean dramas and for someone who really understood the story and could differentiate who was who this drama had everything.I decided to stay till the end and I was even more confused.This is
only my opinion and it doesn't take away how excellent it was for other viewers..
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Completed
Hidden Love
5 people found this review helpful
Sep 18, 2023
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

THE BEST C-DRAMA I EVER WATCHED

I hadn't watched Chinese Dramas for so long (binge-watched S. Korean ones) but when I came across this drama (and its ratings), I decided to make a comeback to C-Dramas. I must say that that's the best decision I ever made till now because "Hidden Love" totally changed my perspective of C-Dramas (previously, I thought they were good but cringe). This drama genuinely captivated me from start to finish. However, as much as I adored it, there were a couple of elements because of which I gave it a 9.5 and not a perfect 10. But I'll write about that in the end of my review. Let me first tell you what actually made this drama so so so good!

So, what truly made this drama shine was the exceptional acting. The main lead actors Chen Zheyuan & Zhao Lusi took their characters to a whole new level of depth and authenticity. It was as if they breathed life into the screen, making each moment truly memorable. The ML's (Duan Jiaxu's) eye expressions were to die for! The FL's acting was phenomenal too. The supporting characters also did a great job & that's why I gave the acting part of this drama a 10/10.

One of the aspects that made this drama stand out was its ability to create an immersive and heartwarming atmosphere. It felt like a warm embrace to me. This is where the drama truly excelled, portraying the delicate intricacies of relationships, friendships & emotions. I loved the bond between FL (Sang Zhi) & her brother Sang Yan.

Now, let's come to the couple of areas where the drama fell just shy of perfection (in my opinion). Firstly, the supporting characters (Sang Yan, Wang Ruolan & Jiang Ming) didn't receive as much screen time as I would have liked. While the main leads shone brightly, I wanted to delve deeper into the lives, thoughts, and emotions of the supporting cast. Providing them some more screentime could have added an extra layer of richness to the drama.

The second point that I found kind of strange was the sudden change of the ML's feelings for the FL. The ML admitted his feelings for the FL out of nowhere & it felt so abrupt that I couldn't help but notice it. While the chemistry between them was incredible & undeniable, I wished to witness the different stages of his emotional transformation more vividly – from initial denial and hesitation to eventual acceptance and determination. A more gradual progression would have made his character's growth of feelings even more compelling.

*Edit : Another thing which I was concerned about while watching this drama was that they chose such a young girl for playing the role of 14 years old Sang Zhi. Since there is a 5 years age gap between ML & FL, they should've chosen a girl who actually looked 14 instead of 8 so that viewers won't feel disturbed. Just remembered this point & wanted to add it but otherwise it's alright. Kindly continue reading the rest of my review below.

In conclusion, despite these minor setbacks, this drama remains a beautiful and emotionally resonant experience & it's far by the best C-Drama I watched. It enveloped me in a world of genuine warmth and heartfelt moments. The exceptional acting and the portrayal of intricate human relationships make it a must-watch. While it might not have been a flawless 10/10 for me, it certainly left a lasting impression on me ❤️.

(P.S. : I'm IN LOVE with the ost "Forever Star"!! ✨)

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Completed
The Hidden Character
1 people found this review helpful
Sep 18, 2023
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 3.0
Story 2.0
Acting/Cast 3.5
Music 2.5
Rewatch Value 1.0
These contestants had shared stories that could jeopardize their future careers, and yet their mental health and well-being were not taken into consideration. It was clear that these boys had gone through experiences that were beyond their understanding, and simply apologizing for their past behavior was not enough to mend the souls that were hurt during those situations. On top of that it was disappointing to see the cast members indulging in pointless games instead of dedicating their time and energy to their craft of acting.
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Completed
The Eighth Sense
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 18, 2023
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
I was thoroughly impressed with this drama. It's not often that we see a genuine gay love story portrayed on screen, but this show made a valiant effort to do just that - and succeeded. As someone who has watched other BL series, I can attest to the fact that the homophobia of Korean society often seeps into the acting and direction of these shows, but that was not the case here.

The script was already a strong starting point, but the actors truly brought it to life. Im Ji Sub and Oh Jun Taek were absolutely stellar as the lead actors. Their performances were so nuanced that you could tell exactly how their characters were feeling just from a single expression or exchange. The chemistry and tension between them was palpable, and you could feel the mutual romantic curiosity between them.

Overall, I would highly recommend this show to anyone looking for a well-crafted and authentic gay love story. It's a refreshing change from the usual tropes and stereotypes that we see in this genre, and it's definitely worth a watch.

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Completed
Stay with Me
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 18, 2023
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 7.5
This show is a true romance! The love between the two main characters is undeniable, with kisses, cuddles, and even a confession on the beach. And let me tell you, this show goes further than some of the recent BLs I've seen, while still maintaining a level of tastefulness. But what really sets this show apart is the relationship itself. It's one of the most romantic things I've seen in a long time. You can truly see the deep connection between these two soul mates, who would do anything for each other. If you're a fan of romance, this show is a must-watch?
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Completed
Semantic Error
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 18, 2023
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 7.5
Semantic Error is a must-watch for all the romance drama lovers out there! The show's strongest aspect is undoubtedly the characters and the palpable chemistry between the lead actors. Jaeyoung and Sangwoo are incredibly likeable characters, and their on-screen chemistry is simply electrifying. It's always a good thing when you can root for the leads in a romance drama, and these two actors make it easy to do so.

What's even more impressive is that the actors seem to genuinely enjoy playing these roles. There's no awkwardness or apprehension between them, which makes their performances all the more convincing. As the story progresses, we see a gradual attraction build up between the main couple, and the tension between them is amazing.

Overall, Semantic Error is a well-crafted romance drama that will leave you wanting more. The characters are likeable, the chemistry is sizzling, and the story is engaging. If you're looking for a show that will make you swoon, this is definitely the one to watch!

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Completed
Forever Love
1 people found this review helpful
by Melnat
Sep 18, 2023
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.5

Good short romance

For a short drama, it is really good. The chemistry is 10/10. Of course the story plot is not perfect but it is very enjoyable and rewatch worthy for the chemistry. Chen fang tong and dai gao zheng can act and their chemistry feels real. Their acting is worthy for full length drama. The supporting actor and actress are also good. Another drama with chen fang tong and dai gao zheng, please. A full length drama! In the meantime I will rewatch this again and again. Especially their hot scene.. Hahaha
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Completed
Hidden Love
6 people found this review helpful
Sep 18, 2023
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

I'm pretty surprised and a little bit disappointed

I'm honestly pretty surprised at how well this drama was received. C-dramas have finally gotten so much recognition and popularity from this drama alone, for which I am grateful. I enjoy both K-dramas and C-dramas and I was always a bit upset that C-dramas came nowhere close to the love and popularity that K-dramas get. So of course, I had to watch this drama myself to see what the whole hype was about. But unfortunately for me, I was disappointed and I really don't see what the hype is about. I feel like so many other C-dramas have a better story line that should've been the spearhead of this spike in C-drama popularity, but alas, this is what we get. The whole sister-brother thing made me uncomfortable at the beginning, and I feel like they chose a child actor that looked WAY TOO YOUNG for the age that she was supposed to be playing at. So because of that, it made it uncomfortable when our ML finally fell for our FL. Even after trying to ignore this point, I don't think their relationship was anything to die for. I didn't find myself smiling ear-to-ear, squealing my little tush off from their relationship. Everything just felt like it was lacking . Anyways I'm pretty tired so I'm just going to end this review but maybe I'll come back to fix it up. Bye for now!

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Completed
Love Class Season 2
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 18, 2023
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Still room for improvement but really good~

I quite liked this season. To be frank, I don't remember too much about season 1, so I don't have much comparison. I do remember the actors, though, so it was great to see them cameo in the middle of the season! I also like that there were three couples and each couple had their own issues to work out (though one couple I seriously could have done w/o).
I think the main couple had a lot of challenges with trust and vulnerability which is why KA didn't talk about his past and LH didn't push about it. Seeing KA's past, it makes sense. He's deeply traumatized, so any form of intimacy makes him scared because he doesn't know what's coming next. Will they leave? Will they betray him? It's hard for him to feel like he can have friends/chosen family or romantic relationships. From there, I like that there was a natural progress of them building trust by relying on each other and demonstrating that they can be trusted with difficult topics. I really appreciated that the whole Love Class/marriage and family theme talked about building relationships in an actually healthy way - there's a lot of build-up to a quality relationship - and that that genuinely helped them to grow together as a couple. I must say, as usual, I am disappointed by the poor kissing by the main couple but...I'm not surprised since LH is an idol IRL. They always let them star in BLs but they don't let them actually make it feel like a true BL. I suppose, at least it wasn't an angle kiss.
The second couple - MR and MW - were a bit confusing at first. Right away I understood MW liked MR, but it wasn't clear whether MR was being dense or genuinely didn't know that his best friend liked him. I didn't really enjoy the manipulation tactics with the faking having a girlfriend in order to get your crush to date you. However, it does force people to face their feelings, MR in this case; in the end, it worked out and they didn't have hard feelings. I must add, too, MR stole the show. His personality and silly antics were super entertaining and precious. I'm w MW on this one - he's too cute not to date lol Also, A- for the kissing. It definitely got better over time but the beginning with non-con kissing...Big question. MR was awake but MW didn't get consent so \o.o/ no bueno.
The third couple - JK and SM - were just...awful, to be honest. I didn't appreciate their dynamic at all, and they were toxic asf. Between the childish "playing hard to get" to the misunderstandings about JK's relationship with his uncle (??? tf, so underdeveloped and confusing), all of it was deeply unimpressive and their relationship didn't make sense to me. I mean, the end revealed that SM knew JK before he left for the army and came back, so did he have feelings then and he developed them now? Idk. Also, let's talk about that weird underwear gift...That whole scene made me cringe big time. Then to threaten him and the whole thing - so fucking unnecessary. A for actually kissing though. The "bed scene" (NC-17 at best, but read a bit PG-13) was decent though it didn't go beyond making out. I guess that's a start considering KBL at the beginning could barely even fit in a kiss lol
Overall, I enjoyed it even though some of the mistakes were a bit bummy. The whole thing with the boom mic really wasn't notable. I only noticed it in one episode a couple of times, but I don't remember it anywhere else. The audio in general could have been a bit better, too.

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Completed
Time and Him Are Just Right
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 18, 2023
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 3.5
This review may contain spoilers

Dang...it was a pretty good run until...

I picked this drama up randomly since I saw it on Youtube and just wanted something nice, sweet, and easygoing. After just a brief look at the reviews, I decided to take a chance on it. From what I saw, everyone said this was such a good, underrated drama and the only reason why it wasn't popular was because of a lesser known cast. So I was all for it and I was really enjoying the episodes honestly. Some of it didn't really make sense but I didn't mind, as long as our little group was having their enjoyable, happy high school days. This drama reminded me a lot of When I Fly Towards You, which I loved so much and so I was very much enjoying this drama as well. That is, until now when I decided to write this review. We'll see how the rest of this drama goes but I reached the point of the drama where Lin Xi is being held back a year because randomly, her father got injured from the people from the car accident. I have a huge issue with this and it just feels so unnecessary for this to happen. I'm not sure why they decided to go this route but I hope it makes sense when I continue watching. If they were going to go this route, I feel like they should have fleshed out the accident story a lot of more and hinted to these troubles prior to doing this. So as of now, I have a bad taste in my mouth from this drama and hence the 7/10 score since I was thoroughly enjoying it before. We'll see if it gets better but I don't have high hopes. Also it's episode 17/25 and our main couple is STILL not together? It's giving draggy at this point. Anyways, I'll be back after I finish this drama, if I finish this drama. Bye for now!

UPDATE (beware of spoilers):
I finally finished watching and man, those last 9 episodes were honestly a struggle to get through, even if I was 2x speeding most of the way through. I feel like after they graduated high school, it went downhill. The misunderstandings were dumb, I really hated seeing the second couple and felt like it dragged on way too long, and even though I loved Qin Kai, I can't believe they kept the useless love triangle go on for so long. Honestly, I almost would've preferred to see our FL together with Qin Kai, I feel like their love story had more connection than our main couple. Yeah so overall, I'm quite disappointed and I'm glad I'm done so I can move on to another drama.

UPDATE 2:
OMG. BUT. I did forget to add that I love that this drama decided to sneak some subtle LGBTQ themes in there. Our couple is so cute and even though, it wasn't fully confirmed, I think we all know what really happened. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see it develop completely but the insinuation is there. Hopefully this has a snowball effect for future dramas.

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Completed
Jewel in the Palace
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 18, 2023
54 of 54 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
Dae Jang Geum/Jewel in the Palace (2003) - this is by far the earliest released drama that I watched on my list. Released date of this was last 2003, so that would be 20 years from now. Wow. This drama for me has all the elements of a historical drama that I would likely want to watch.

Focuses on the cooking aspect, but at the same time gives highlight to the medicinal aspect of food which is really great to see in a korean drama.

I also like the decision of Jang Geum in the end. One of the dramas that I felt happy to see who the lead end up with. Classic drama, worth the 54 episodes of my time. Recommended drama still.

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