Worth watching
Not too slow pace for me. Solid storyline that develops slowly. ML in blonde hair suits him so well and FL is very natural. Their chemistry is undeniable as well. This is the first time I watch them act and I must admit they are really funny together! Supporting cast add lots of flavour to the show. A heart warming story in a small knitted community makes this drama worth watching!Was this review helpful to you?
Honestly liked it
This show is pretty refreshing. I haven't watched too many cdramas and this isn't a storyline I have seen before. The actors were casted very well and the storyline is great so far. I think that I would come back to watch this show again. It is slow burn but I love watching the romance blossom between the leads. Also I think the side characters are fun as well.Was this review helpful to you?
most DAZZLING drama of the summer
Finally! The perfect drama for the summer came out. I am not just saying that lightly either..... let me explain...Summer is more of a feeling (for me) than a season. It is sunshine everyday, ice pops, and a whole three months of relaxation. What that would come out to in drama form is the 2026 Drama - Dazzling.... and I can't say I even expected this one to be that good.
Beginning the drama I honestly wasn't all too invested, that being that I thought the female lead Qing Ye, was unlikable. Now watching up to what I have I can say that it only proves the sentiment that you 'can't judge a book by it's cover', and for dramas that means.. you can't judge a show off one episode. Now I know you can and people do, and that is fair, but most of the time a drama- being as many episodes that they are - usually are written to be watched entirely. Some aren't, but this one is 100% a drama that has a beginning, a middle, and an end. I credit that to it being from a novel, which most of the better dramas are sourced from. They have the right framework or 'script' to work off of, and the right amount of tailoring can make a drama truly incredible. For now, this drama is 'dazzling' (haha)
Qing Ye is a headstrong girl, and on the first episode or two she comes across as someone with standards so high that it gets annoying. I realized that the drama did it on purpose, made her so petty to begin with because she simply is. Qing Ye is very spiteful of her situation, and honestly didn't deserve to be relocated at all. Her parents were the ones that screwed up, and as a result she has to be moved away to avoid the controversies. This sets up a lot of questions, her being so uptight that it: why is she that way? And how did she get to be that way? Because despite that, Qing Ye is really a sweet girl. Since the drama had committed the first few episodes to her being bratty, it really pays off when you see why she is that way. So I would say she is written very well, and it is a tricky slope to go onto when writing someone that can be childish have these high standards at first. Again, since it was committed, it becomes all the more believable when she has her mellow moments and grows a deep connection with Xing Wu, the male lead, in such a short amount of time.
The first handful of episodes are the perfect summer season. It's almost like a dream, and it's bittersweet when it wraps up upon the 7th episode. I want to see more, but know that the drama has a lot more to show. That Qing Ye's summer only just started, and now having been with Xing Wu, she becomes less materialistic and can have fun even with simple things. I really like the way that their relationship is set up and starts off also.... there is so much to say for a drama that only just aired.
What I can say is that it has a good story, has a good cast of characters, pretty much has all the things a drama needs to succeed.
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Romantic Drama
This is one of those series that seems to have a repeated storyline like many C-dramas. It is a mix of other c-dramas from the past. All good actors, a good story but I always find that more than 24 episodes is too much. It could end sooner than watching all 30 episodes. It is finally a sweet romantic comedy with some life experiences.Was this review helpful to you?
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A Gem ON VIKI
A beautiful drama, Qing Ye a beauty, rich, self-confident.She comes to a place on the coast where family lives.
The woman was adopted by QY's grandparents but ran away and became pregnant by Xing Wu; the family is deeply in debt, and XW hustles to get money.
Thats the { family } story .
The drama has many cheerful, but also emotional sides. The beauty of village life on the coast: love, loyalty, but also betrayal and theft, lost happiness, winning opportunities.
FL and Ml have incredible chemistry between them, physically at the beginning, because both Xing Wu and Qing Ye are outwardly beautiful. XW with his platinum blond hair at the start, and QY with her classic style and manners.
She radiates wealth; XW struggles and is prejudiced.
But he is also ashamed, a bathroom doorknob incident.
But like a knight, he protects her from the beginning of the drama.
And looks after her well-being. It is simply a beautiful drama. I never watch modern Chinese dramas, but recently I have been hooked.
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Leads have good chemistry
The storyline was fine i am fan of both leads their chemistry was everything honestly i only really liked the first two and last episodes. If your into full high school dramas this def for those type of cdrama fans. the whole series they were in high school that was annoying made the storyline honestly boring to the point where i almost dropped the series we didnt really see the leads as a couple til the last 3 episodes what a waste. I wish it was like when i fly towards you, exclusive fairytale, go ahead , hidden love, first frost when we saw the characters in high school for bit, than college than adult hood. I would love to see the leads do another drama together with a better storyline. Will i watch this drama again probably not.Was this review helpful to you?
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The Warmest Surprise of the Year
I started Dazzling with absolutely zero expectations. In fact, I wasn’t expecting to like it at all. I hadn’t seen many people talking about it, and since it’s from the same writer as Speed and Love (which I personally didn’t love), I went in with very low expectations. Somehow, it completely blew me away.This ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the year for me.
The drama has such a warm, comforting summer atmosphere. The seaside setting instantly reminded me of Welcome to Samdal-ri, but with a much younger and more youthful energy. At its core, it’s a story about friendship, family, community, dreams, and growing up, with romance naturally woven into it rather than dominating the story.
The relationship progression is one of my favorite aspects. It’s not really enemies-to-lovers; it’s more enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. At the beginning, I know a lot of viewers found the female lead bratty, but honestly, I completely understood her reactions. Imagine going from a comfortable city life with your own room, air conditioning, and privacy to suddenly living in a crowded seaside community with shared bathroom and a completely different lifestyle. I’d be struggling too.
What I loved most was how Xing Wu treated her from the very beginning. Even when he teased her or acted annoyed, he was always looking out for her. He constantly took care of her, protected her, and put her needs first. That’s such a huge part of who he is as a character—he takes care of the people he loves, and she was no exception. One line from later in the drama really stuck with me: even when they had almost nothing, they would still offer what little they had to her. That warmth and generosity perfectly captures the spirit of this show.
The drama balances so many elements beautifully: friendship, family, romance, hardship, perseverance, and personal growth. Xing Wu’s journey was especially inspiring. No matter how many times life knocked him down, he always found a way to get back up again.
One thing people should know before watching: this is an incredibly slow burn romance. And when I say slow burn, I mean slow burn. The leads don’t officially get together until very late in the story, and for a long time you could easily interpret their relationship as best friends or even sibling-like. Normally that would frustrate me, but surprisingly, I didn’t mind it here because their bond was so genuine and heartwarming. Their friendship alone was enough to keep me invested.
This was my first time watching GXT, and I absolutely loved her. She fit the role of the spoiled rich girl perfectly. More importantly, her character growth was fantastic. Her bratty attitude doesn’t last forever, and watching her become more humble, empathetic, and connected to the people around her was incredibly satisfying. I also loved that she consistently stood up for herself. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to pursue it.
As for Xing Wu, he completely stole my heart.
His story is heartbreaking, but what impressed me most was his resilience. This man goes through absolute hell, yet he never lets bitterness consume him. He keeps getting back up, keeps trying to be kind, and keeps giving people second chances. He genuinely has one of the biggest hearts I’ve seen in a drama.
And honestly, this might be my favorite Li Yunrui role so far.
I’m usually used to seeing him in historical dramas, so this was my first modern drama with him, and he felt incredibly natural. He wasn’t the bad boy I expected him to be. Instead, he was basically a walking green flag disguised as a red flag. His smile, his warmth, his quiet devotion—I loved everything about him. Also um the blond hair :)
Most importantly, he got to live his youth because of her.
Before she entered his life, he was surviving rather than living. She pushed him back toward society, encouraged him to dream again, and reminded him that he deserved happiness too. They changed each other’s lives in the best possible way.
The chemistry between the leads felt incredibly natural. Whether they were friends or lovers, every stage of their relationship felt believable. Nothing felt forced. They clicked from the very beginning, and I loved how supportive they were of one another throughout the entire drama. I enjoyed every second of them as the chemistry was amazing!
My biggest issue is Episodes 26–28.
I actually didn’t mind the separation or time jump itself. I understood why it happened and why Xing Wu needed time to grow. However, I think the writers completely wasted those three episodes.
Instead of spending so much time keeping the leads apart, they could have used those episodes to develop their adult relationship. Since the romance is already such a slow burn, it felt frustrating to lose valuable screen time that could have been spent showing them reconnecting, falling in love, and building their relationship.
When they finally do get together, I absolutely loved their scenes. That’s exactly why I wish we had gotten more of them. Their relationship felt a little rushed simply because we spent so much time waiting for it. I would’ve loved a wedding, an epilogue, or just more time with them as a couple.
One thing I really appreciated is that there are no unnecessary love triangles, annoying second leads, or pointless characters. Every character serves a purpose, and even the people who make mistakes remain understandable. I never truly hated anyone because the drama takes the time to show where everyone is coming from.
The friend group was wonderful, the family dynamics were heartwarming, and I loved how the story portrayed life in a close-knit seaside community where everyone looks after each other. By the end, every major character receives a satisfying conclusion, and seeing everyone achieve their dreams felt incredibly rewarding.
The cinematography is also gorgeous. The seaside views, the lavender fields, the sunsets—everything looks beautiful. And of course, having songs from Liu Yuning on the soundtrack is always a bonus. The OST perfectly matches the bright, comforting atmosphere of the show.
Overall, Dazzling is not a fast-paced romance. It’s a calm, comforting, character-driven drama that feels like a warm summer by the sea. It’s wholesome, emotional, funny, inspiring, and full of heart.
I just wish we’d gotten more time with the couple in the final stretch—but despite that, I wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s one of those dramas that simply makes you feel good while watching it.
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The perfect summer drama!
Summer vibes, lovely family, fun friend group and a sweet romance: the perfect combination for summer dramas!I’m genuinely surprised by this show! It had everything i was looking for!
The storyline was such a perfect summer breeze. I love small town dramas and unfortunately, i watched a lot of them, this was exactly what i needed.
I loveddddd that we basically had the whole drama in the small town.
Young adults struggling with their own individual life problems, adults working on their own lives. It was not just a basic drama, it contained way more details and more emotions. Their were a lot of great characters who had their own big or small story, doesn’t matter. There are great life lessons to pick up from
Every episode was fun to watch. Cdramas have more episodes and tend to have a bit of a downgrade at the last 5-10 episodes, but it was great with this one. Thats a big plus for me!
I would highly recommend it. Most cdramas aren’t really touching in my opinion but this was did a really great job!
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slow slow burn
this drama exceeded my expectations. I wasn't expecting much when I started it but once I got passed episode one , I binge watched the whole thing. It had me on an emotional roller coaster and i really love how the male lead is so green flag, protects his family and just mature. The ML gave me same vibes as lighter and princess.As for the female lead i love that she has no melodrama and is very down to earth. the story itself is so original, showing us that every cloud has a silver lining, and that's how life just is.
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Best Modern C-Drama So far in 2026
I wasn’t expecting much at first—I only started this drama to support Li Yun Rui. But after the very first episode, Guan Xiao Tong completely won me over and made me stay.Her character started off incredibly strong. As a rich city girl suddenly thrown into life in the countryside, she complained about almost everything, while Xing Wu quietly stood by, observing her with an eagle eyes. I really loved that the female lead always had a strong mindset and a clear vision for her future. She knew exactly what she wanted.
Once they began accepting each other’s presence, everything flowed so naturally. For those saying it’s impossible for a man to fall for a woman in less than a month, I think it depends on the circumstances. The drama actually explained it well. Xing Wu was written as someone deeply devoted to his family, even at a young age. He was incredibly respectful and caring toward his grandmother, and seeing Qing Ye treat his grandmother with the same kindness and warmth naturally drew him closer to her. At that point, it was clear why he fell in love.
One of my favorite parts of this drama is its slow-burn romance. It never felt boring or dragged out. Watching them go from constantly arguing to understanding, listening to, and protecting each other was so satisfying. And the moment Xing Wu decided to return to school because of Qing Ye was especially rewarding to watch.
By the end, it was obvious how deeply Xing Wu loved Qing Ye, and vice versa. Actually think the ending was really good, although a few parts could have been explored in more detail to make it even better. For example, I would have loved to see more of Xing Wu’s journey and the effort he put into catching up with Qing Ye, as well as the story behind his glasses, which could have made certain emotional moments even more impactful.
Overall, I genuinely enjoyed this drama and found it deeply touching from beginning to end.
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Finding a home in the least expected place ?
I was hooked right from the first episode and completed this 30-episode drama in 3 days. I personally haven't seen or heard of these two main leads before. The only familiar face was the guy who acted as Gu Ran in WIFTY and also the girl from Lighter and Princess. That said, I really enjoyed the acting and casting throughout. No supporting casts felt redundant or extra.I loved that the show also had many life lessons that we could take away. It was not just a feel good drama or one that gives butterflies. The balance of joys, setbacks, pain, and grief made the show so relatable.
The grandma (nai nai) was definitely the heart of the show for me. Her timely wisdom and comfort to her grandchildren always made me tear up. That scene where the FL almost got sexually assaulted and the nai nai embraces her... "You're home now, you're home," she comforts. That meant so much for someone who had lost her mother to illness and had just been abandoned in a place that felt nothing like home. Yet it was in that moment that she experienced love, warmth, and protection.
Even though the FL was initially portrayed as a spoilt brat/princess, and was getting on the ML's nerves, he continued to do his part as a distant relative and care for her. Coming from very different backgrounds and holding different views on money, they initially have a lot of misunderstandings and conflicts. At the end of the day, while money is important, the show also taught how there are things that cannot be resolved with money.
"Will you think if others are hungry if you are starving?" the FL asked her Dad when he made his way into the Xuan Town determined to take her back to Bei Jing to resume back to her normal life. By then, the FL had resolved to stay in this town to get through her high school and apply for university thereafter. She had grown to love the people in this little town. She saw how these people who didn't have much, shared the little they had with her - making sure she always had her fill, and had a shelter over her head.
Having grown mutual affection for each other, I never really understood why they needed to cut off contact completely after the FL departed for BeiJing. But my guess is that if that separation never happened, both of them wouldn't have become the better people they became five years later. The FL encourages the ML by telling him that if he really wanted to see her again, he would find a hundred ways to get there. Fuelled by her belief in him, he also promises the FL, "Keep going forward, don't look back, I'll eventually catch up to you."
This show really captured the reality of growing up pains, figuring out their life's purpose and what happens when you don't give up and keep fighting. Despite several setbacks and loss the varied characters face, there was always hope - light that shone through the cracks, sunshine after the storm. Even for the 'villain', there was also a redemptive arc, to own your mistakes and take charge of your own future.
The writers really wrote the script and directed the show really well. One of my favourite metaphor in the show was: Life is like a box of chocolates - you may have just eaten a bitter one, but the next could be sweet. Truly captured the beautiful perspective on the unpredictability of life.
With its heartfelt storytelling, memorable characters, meaningful life lessons, and stunning cinematography, this is a drama that stays with you long after the final episode. A must-watch!
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What a great story!!
At first I thought this was going to be very boring, but I was so so so wrong. The drama held such an emotional impact on me with the storyline of moving, family, and friends. The plot followed similar stories, but some parts did leave me stunned because I couldn’t guess what was coming next. It was addictive and left me wanting to watch one more episode every time. At first I really didnt like the FL with her attitude in the beginning, but I soon grew to like her character. The ML was perfectly casted for this role. Dare I say this is better than Lighter and The Princess? This ML is better than LATP due to many reasons. I really love how there is less conflict between the two main leads and more about life and other factors. It made me believe that the two were solid instead of being irritated over over-exaggerated fights. Overall this is such an amazing story!Was this review helpful to you?
